In a strategic move ahead of the upcoming elections, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) has added Texas’ 23rd Congressional District to its list of target districts. This designation marks the third red-leaning, Hispanic-majority U.S. House seat to come under the attention of national Democratic leaders.
The inclusion of the 23rd District in the DCCC’s “Districts in Play” list signifies a growing confidence among party officials that they could potentially flip this expansive district, which stretches from San Antonio to parts of West Texas and has been under Republican control since 2015. This designation also allows the DCCC to allocate funds in an effort to challenge the Republican nominee in the district.
Historically, the 23rd District, which encompasses a significant portion of the Texas-Mexico border, was represented by Tony Gonzales, a moderate Republican who resigned earlier this year amid a scandal involving a staff member.
Katy Padilla Stout, an attorney based in San Antonio and a former educator, is the Democratic candidate vying for this seat.
Her opponent for the upcoming election is Brandon Herrera, a gun rights activist and YouTuber. Herrera previously challenged Gonzales in the primary, pushing him into a runoff, and subsequently secured the Republican nomination after Gonzales withdrew from the race.
Unlike his predecessors, including Gonzales and former Representative Will Hurd, Herrera is known for his provocative online presence and controversial remarks. He has received backing from the Freedom Caucus Fund, which seeks to amplify the influence of hardline conservatives within the party.
The district has historically leaned Republican, having voted for President Donald Trump by a margin of 15 points in the 2024 election. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report categorizes it as “likely Republican,” with Democrats struggling to gain traction in recent statewide elections, including a narrow defeat to Senator Ted Cruz in 2018.
DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene has expressed optimism about the potential for Democrats in the district, citing polling data indicating a decline in support for Trump among Hispanic voters, coupled with Herrera’s contentious public statements.
“Brandon Herrera’s troubling history of extremism, violence, and antisemitic rhetoric puts this open Congressional district squarely in play,” DelBene stated.
Herrera’s past includes making light of the Holocaust on his YouTube channel and discussing owning a copy of “Mein Kampf.” These comments have been highlighted by Democrats following his nomination. In response, Herrera’s campaign has dismissed accusations of antisemitism as “bizarre, desperate, and false,” noting that he has also condemned the extremist ideologies he has referenced in his work.
As the campaign progresses, Herrera has outpaced Padilla Stout in fundraising efforts. Recent Federal Election Commission reports indicate that Herrera had $309,000 in his campaign account by the end of June, compared to Padilla Stout’s $171,000.
Christian Martinez, a spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee, welcomed the DCCC’s focus on Padilla Stout’s campaign, characterizing it as doomed. “National Democrats should by all means continue their financial malpractice and pour money into her socialist train wreck, but all they will buy is another expensive humiliation in November,” he remarked.
Currently, Republicans hold a slim majority in the U.S. House, with 218 seats to the Democrats’ 212. To regain control of the House, Democrats need a net gain of three seats. However, the recent redistricting efforts led by Texas Republicans have resulted in the creation of more seats that favor the GOP, complicating Democrats’ path to reclaiming the chamber.
With the addition of the 23rd District, the DCCC is now focusing on three districts in South Texas, which includes the 15th Congressional District represented by GOP Rep. Monica De La Cruz, and the 35th Congressional District, an open seat that has been redrawn to favor Republicans. All three districts have majority-Hispanic voting populations.
On the Republican side, the National Republican Congressional Committee is targeting five seats in Texas, all of which have been redrawn to be more favorable to Republican candidates. This includes the 9th Congressional District in Houston, the 32nd Congressional District in North Texas, the open 35th District, as well as districts held by incumbent Democrats Rep. Henry Cuellar and Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, both of which lean towards Trump.
