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Candidate

Chelsey Hockett

Democrat

Private citizen

Chelsey Hockett is a Democrat and a mother from East Texas4 who won the May 26, 2026 Democratic runoff for Texas's 5th Congressional District over Ruth Torres, 53 percent to 47 percent1. She was born in Frederick, Maryland, earned a bachelor's degree from Texas Woman's University in 2015, and has worked in restaurants and for airlines1. She has been affiliated with the Kaufman County Democratic Party1.

Where they stand 14 issues · tap any issue for the evidence

  • HealthcareGovernment-run coverage for everyone (Medicare for All)medium
    Said · medium confidence
    • Her campaign site says she will fight to enact Medicare for All, a universal system that would eliminate premiums and deductibles. (2026) source
    • Said she supports Medicare for All and universal, publicly funded healthcare. (2026-02-16) source
  • Minimum wageRaise it higher and tie it to the cost of livingmedium
    Said · medium confidence
    • Her campaign site calls for tying the minimum wage to the cost of living, starting with a $25 minimum wage. (2026) source
  • Social SecurityExpand benefits and fund it with higher taxes on the wealthymedium
    Said · medium confidence
    • Her campaign site calls for tying Social Security benefits to the cost of living, starting with a $200 benefit increase, funded by removing the cap on the Social Security payroll tax. (2026) source
  • Childcare and pre-KGuarantee low-cost childcare for all families plus universal pre-Kmedium
    Said · medium confidence
    • Her campaign site calls for enacting universal childcare so parents can afford to raise children and work. (2026) source
  • Aid to IsraelEnd itmedium
    Said · medium confidence
    • Her campaign site calls for passing the Block the Bombs Act and other legislation to end all U.S. funding for Israel while sending aid to Palestinians. (2026) source
    • Answered yes when asked whether she supports ending U.S. military aid to countries with ongoing human rights abuses, including Israel and Egypt. (2026-08) source
  • Income taxesRaise taxes on the highest earners and corporations to pay for programsmedium
    Said · medium confidence
    • Her campaign site calls for making corporations and billionaires pay more by closing loopholes and instituting a progressive income tax and a wealth tax. (2026) source
  • AbortionLegal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)medium
    Said · medium confidence
    • Her campaign site calls for codifying Roe v. Wade and returning control of health decisions to each woman and her doctor. (2026) source
    • Told Ballotpedia she believes in reproductive freedom. (2025) source
  • ImmigrationA path to citizenship for most, and more legal immigrationmedium
    Said · medium confidence
    • Her campaign site calls for abolishing and prosecuting ICE and replacing it with humane, accountable immigration services, and for fair and efficient pathways to citizenship. (2026) source
    • Told Ballotpedia she supports a humane border system that values both security and human dignity. (2025) source
  • RedistrictingIndependent commissions draw maps, with a national ban on partisan gerrymanderingmedium
    Said · medium confidence
    • Her campaign site supports the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to ban partisan gerrymandering. (2026) source
  • Energy and climateAn aggressive shift to clean energy with firm deadlinesmedium
    Said · medium confidence
    • Her campaign site calls for enacting a Green New Deal to expand renewable energy. (2026) source
  • Qualified immunityNo, end it for police so officers or departments can be sued for rights violationsmedium
    Questionnaire answer · medium confidence
    • Answered 'absolutely' when asked whether she supports ending qualified immunity and setting federal police accountability standards, including a national use-of-force standard and independent investigations. (2026-02-16) source
  • Supreme Court reformAdd term limits and ethics rules, and expand the Court beyond nine seatsmedium
    Questionnaire answer · medium confidence
    • Said she supports expanding the Supreme Court and instituting term limits for justices. (2026-02-16) source
  • Trade and tariffsFree trade with minimal tariffs across the boardlow
    Said · low confidence
    • Her campaign site calls for ending President Trump's tariffs, citing Federal Reserve findings that they raise consumer prices. (2026) source
  • Term limitsNo single answer fitsmedium
    Questionnaire answer · medium confidence
    • Told Ballotpedia she supports term limits that apply to everyone, without grandfather clauses, combined with limits on lobbying and PAC money. (2025) source

No public position found on: National debt, Safety net programs, Business regulation, Guns, Foreign policy, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Death penalty, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, Birthright citizenship, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, Aid to Ukraine, China policy.

Record

  • Placed first in the March 3, 2026 Democratic primary for Texas's 5th Congressional District and won the May 26, 2026 runoff1.
  • Faces incumbent Lance Gooden on the November 3, 2026 ballot; an independent, Dea Foy, is listed as withdrawn or disqualified3.

Who funds this campaign

Official reports filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) for January 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026.

$12,666raised
$-13,258spent
$5,129cash on hand

Where the money came from

  • People who gaveincluding $6,132 in gifts under $200$12,666

Gifts from individual people are listed by name in the full filings. See every report on FEC.gov. Numbers updated October 5, 2026; we add no labels or judgments to any donor.

Last reviewed 2026-10-19. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.

Sources (5)

Every claim on this page links to one of these
  1. Chelsey Hockett (includes 2025 Candidate Connection survey)Ballotpedia
  2. IssuesChelsey Hockett for Congress
  3. Texas' 5th Congressional District election, 2026Ballotpedia
  4. Meet The Candidates: Chelsey Hockett For Texas Congressional District 05 (candidate Q&A)Lone Star Left
  5. Where Every Texas Democratic Congressional Candidate Stands On Israel And AIPAC MoneyLone Star Left