Vote the PersonNot the party
Candidate

Melissa McDonough

Democrat

Private citizen

Melissa McDonough is a Democrat and Tomball-area Realtor with about 30 years in real estate, including 20 years owning or managing a brokerage6. She has lobbied Congress on consumer protection and healthcare and has worked as a Harris County election judge156. She was the Democratic nominee for the 38th District in 2024 and won the March 2026 Democratic primary outright12.

Where they stand 11 issues · tap any issue for the evidence

  • HealthcareGovernment-run coverage for everyone (Medicare for All)medium
    Said · medium confidence
    • Her campaign home page lists universal healthcare (Medicare for All) among her healthcare positions. (2026) source
    • Told Community Impact that one of her top priorities is ensuring universal healthcare as a human right. (2026-08-26) source
  • GunsAdd universal background checks and red-flag lawsmedium
    Said · medium confidence
    • Her platform supports safe storage (Ethan's Law), stronger background checks and mental health access, and says banning guns is not a practical solution. (2026) source
  • Campaign financeOverturn Citizens United by amendment and add public financing of campaignsmedium
    Questionnaire answer · medium confidence
    • Listed getting money out of politics as a priority and said dark money has flooded politics since the Citizens United decision. (2024-08-29) source
  • AbortionLegal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)low
    Said · low confidence
    • Her platform, posted since 2024, says women deserve bodily autonomy and that their healthcare decisions should be made privately with a physician. (2024) source
    • Told Ballotpedia that reproductive matters should be determined by individuals and their doctors. (2024-08-29) source
  • Aid to UkraineNo single answer fitsmedium
    Said · medium confidence
    • Her platform, posted since 2024, says the U.S. should continue to support Ukraine with older military equipment while avoiding a scenario that requires U.S. troops on the ground. (2024) source
  • Aid to IsraelNo single answer fitsmedium
    Said · medium confidence
    • Her platform, posted since 2024, says Israel is a U.S. ally with a right to defend itself, that its response should be proportionate and its leaders held accountable for any war crimes, and that a two-state solution should be honored. (2024) source
  • Trade and tariffsNo single answer fitsmedium
    Said · medium confidence
    • Her platform, posted since 2024, says the Trump trade war with China cost Americans 80 billion dollars in new taxes and that good trade policy requires treating trading partners with respect. (2024) source
    • Told Community Impact that tariff threats are squeezing the local economy. (2026-08-26) source
  • Energy and climateNo single answer fitsmedium
    Said · medium confidence
    • Her platform, posted since 2024, says Texas should embrace renewable energy innovation while the petroleum industry remains integral, using renewables in conjunction with fossil fuels. (2024) source
  • Student loansNo single answer fitsmedium
    Said · medium confidence
    • Her platform, posted since 2024, says students should not be punished with a lifetime of debt, points to tuition-free college in Germany and Norway, and calls for making education more affordable. (2024) source
  • Term limitsNo single answer fitsmedium
    Questionnaire answer · medium confidence
    • Asked her thoughts on term limits in a 2024 Ballotpedia survey, she answered: yes, please. (2024-08-29) source
  • ImmigrationNo single answer fitsmedium
    Said · medium confidence
    • Her platform, posted since 2024, says the situation at the border has gotten out of hand, opposes spending on border barriers, and calls for streamlining legal immigration and addressing root causes in Latin America. (2024) source

No public position found on: Income taxes, National debt, Social Security, Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Foreign policy, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Redistricting, Electoral College, Supreme Court reform, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, Birthright citizenship, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, China policy.

Record

  • Lost the 2024 general election for Texas's 38th District to incumbent Wesley Hunt1.
  • Won the March 3, 2026 Democratic primary with 51.6 percent of the vote over Marvalette Hunter and Theresa Courts2.

Who funds this campaign

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

$66,929raised
$45,689spent
$43,939cash on hand

Cash on hand includes money left over from the campaign's earlier races, so it can be more than raised minus spent.

Where the money came from

  • People who gaveincluding $12,712 in gifts under $200$37,386
  • PACs and other political committees$500
  • Political party committees$1,000
  • The candidate's own money and loans$28,042

Largest contributions from PACs and parties

As named in the filings, net of any refunds. Joint fundraising transfers are counted in the totals above.

  1. CY-FAIR AREA DEMOCRATIC CLUBPolitical committee$1,000
  2. LEE PACPAC$500

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 (6)

Every claim on this page links to one of these
  1. Melissa McDonoughBallotpedia
  2. Texas' 38th Congressional District election, 2026Ballotpedia
  3. Melissa For Congress: HomeMelissa McDonough for Congress
  4. Melissa For Congress: PlatformMelissa McDonough for Congress
  5. Meet the candidates for U.S. House Texas District 38Community Impact
  6. About MelissaMelissa McDonough for Congress