Texas general election: November 3, 2026
Who is running for U.S. House, Texas District 16 in 2026?
Here are the candidates for U.S. House, Texas District 16 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for voters in U.S. House District 16.
Positions come only from each candidate's own votes, official actions, statements and questionnaire answers, never from party labels. Every item links to its source.
Side by side
Each candidate's position on the issues this office handles, from their own record. Details and sources are in each profile below.
| Issue | Adam BaumanRepublican | Veronica EscobarDemocrat |
|---|---|---|
| Income taxes | No public position | Raise taxes on the highest earners and corporations to pay for programsSaid · medium |
| Safety net programs | No public position | Expand help for childcare, housing and paid family leaveVoted · medium |
| Healthcare | No single answer fits; see evidence | Government-run coverage for everyone (Medicare for All)Said · high |
| Abortion | No public position | Legal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)Voted · high |
| Guns | No public position | All of that, plus ban assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazinesSaid · high |
| Immigration | No single answer fits; see evidence | Tighter border security plus a path to legal status for long-time residentsSaid · high |
| Trade and tariffs | No public position | Free trade with strong labor and environmental standardsSaid · medium |
| Energy and climate | No public position | A gradual shift to cleaner energy, driven by incentivesSaid · medium |
| Politicians trading stocks | No public position | No, ban it for members and their spousesSaid · high |
| Marijuana | No public position | Legalize it and clear past convictionsVoted · medium |
| Redistricting | No public position | Independent commissions draw maps, with a national ban on partisan gerrymanderingSaid · medium |
| Campaign finance | No public position | Overturn Citizens United by amendment and add public financing of campaignsVoted · medium |
| Qualified immunity | No public position | No, end it for police so officers or departments can be sued for rights violationsVoted · medium |
| Drug prices | No public position | Negotiate more drugs and extend the insulin and yearly cost caps to private insuranceVoted · medium |
| Childcare and pre-K | No public position | Offer free pre-K to every 4-year-old, and expand childcare aidVoted · medium |
| Paid leave | No public position | Create a national paid family and medical leave program plus paid sick daysSaid · medium |
| Transgender athletes | No, teams should be based on biological sex, with open or coed optionsSaid · medium | No single answer fits; see evidence |
| Aid to Israel | No public position | Keep it, but with conditions on how weapons are used and aid to GazaSaid · high |
| Aid to Ukraine | No public position | Restore strong U.S. aid and add tougher sanctions on RussiaVoted · medium |
Adam Bauman
RepublicanPrivate citizen
Adam Bauman is a Navy veteran who served as a Special Warfare Combatant Crewman and is a retired U.S. Border Patrol agent who served on its tactical unit, BORTAC123. He has operated a canine business in El Paso since 2020, according to county records3. He won the Republican nomination in a May 26, 2026 runoff2.
Where they stand 4 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
Transgender athletesNo, teams should be based on biological sex, with open or coed optionsmedium
Said · medium confidence- His campaign website says biological men have no business competing in women's sports and that he is committed to supporting women-only sports and restrooms. (2026) source
Social SecurityNo single answer fitsmedium
Said · medium confidence- His campaign website says he supports changes to keep Social Security solvent but opposes raising the age to receive benefits. (2026) source
HealthcareNo single answer fitsmedium
Said · medium confidence- His campaign website says he wants to reduce insurance premiums without the federal government subsidizing those costs. (2026) source
ImmigrationNo single answer fitsmedium
Said · medium confidence- His campaign website says a secure border keeps criminals and narcotics out and that he will support the Customs and Border Protection mission. (2026) source
No public position found on: Income taxes, National debt, Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Abortion, Guns, Trade and tariffs, Foreign policy, Energy and climate, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Redistricting, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Supreme Court reform, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, Birthright citizenship, E-Verify mandate, DEI programs, Religion in schools, Aid to Israel, Aid to Ukraine, China policy.
Veronica Escobar
Democrat · IncumbentU.S. Representative, Texas District 16
Veronica Escobar has represented El Paso in Congress since winning election in 2018 and serves on the House Appropriations Committee27. Before Congress she was an El Paso County commissioner and then county judge, and earlier taught English at UTEP and El Paso Community College2. She was unopposed in the March 3, 2026 Democratic primary6.
Where they stand 24 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
HealthcareGovernment-run coverage for everyone (Medicare for All)high
Said · high confidence- Voted against the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act, a private-market bill on association health plans and PBM transparency. (2025-12-17) source
- Voted for restoring the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits for three years. (2026-01-08) source
- Her campaign platform says healthcare is a human right and that she supports Medicare for All. (2026) source
ImmigrationTighter border security plus a path to legal status for long-time residentshigh
Said · high confidence- Voted for the American Dream and Promise Act, which offered a path to citizenship for Dreamers and some long-time TPS holders. (2021-03-18) source
- Voted for the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which offered legal status to long-time farmworkers and required E-Verify in agriculture. (2021-03-18) source
- Voted against the Secure the Border Act, which funded border wall construction and tightened asylum rules. (2023-05-11) source
- Voted against the Secure America Act, which provides about $70 billion for immigration enforcement and border security. (2026-06-09) source
- Led the introduction of the bipartisan Dignity Act, which would create a pathway to legal status for long-term undocumented immigrants, protect Dreamers, expand legal pathways and change asylum processing. (2023) source
- Her campaign platform describes her plan as strengthening border management and modernizing legal immigration while restoring dignity to people in the system. (2026) source
GunsAll of that, plus ban assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazineshigh
Said · high confidence- Voted for the Assault Weapons Ban of 2022, which would ban the sale of many semi-automatic assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines. (2022-07-29) source
- Her campaign platform says she has written and supported gun safety bills including an assault weapons ban, required safe storage and background checks for firearm sales. (2026) source
AbortionLegal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)high
Voted · high confidence- Voted for the Women's Health Protection Act, which would protect abortion access nationwide before viability and later when a patient's life or health is at risk. (2021-09-24) source
- Voted for the Women's Health Protection Act of 2022, which would protect abortion access nationwide before viability and later when a patient's life or health is at risk. (2022-07-15) source
- Her campaign platform lists support for a woman's right to choose her healthcare. (2026) source
- Her House biography notes she is a member of the Pro-Choice Caucus. (2026) source
Politicians trading stocksNo, ban it for members and their spouseshigh
Said · high confidence- Voted against the Stop Insider Trading Act, a stock purchase ban for members that also carried voter ID provisions. (2026-07-22) source
- Said it is long past time to ban congressional stock trading, announced she cosponsors H.R. 396, and signed a discharge petition to force a vote on banning stock trading and ownership by members and their families. (2025-12-15) source
Aid to IsraelKeep it, but with conditions on how weapons are used and aid to Gazahigh
Said · high confidence- Voted for the $26 billion Israel security supplemental with no new conditions on weapons use. (2024-04-20) source
- Voted against the Israel Security Assistance Support Act, which would require delivery of paused weapons to Israel. (2024-05-16) source
- Said she supports defensive weapons for Israel but that offensive weapons should be withheld until Israel allows sufficient humanitarian aid into Gaza and protects civilians. (2024-04-03) source
Income taxesRaise taxes on the highest earners and corporations to pay for programsmedium
Said · medium confidence- Voted for the Inflation Reduction Act, which set a 15% minimum tax on large corporations and a tax on stock buybacks to help pay for energy and health programs. (2022-08-12) source
- Voted against the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which made the 2017 individual tax cuts permanent at every income level. (2025-07-03) source
- Her campaign platform says she has backed efforts to make corporations and the ultra-wealthy pay their fair share and supports expanding the Child Tax Credit. (2026) source
Paid leaveCreate a national paid family and medical leave program plus paid sick daysmedium
RedistrictingIndependent commissions draw maps, with a national ban on partisan gerrymanderingmedium
Said · medium confidenceCampaign financeOverturn Citizens United by amendment and add public financing of campaignsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted for the For the People Act, which created small-donor public matching funds, required disclosure of big donors and called for a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United. (2021-03-03) source
- Her campaign platform says federal voting rights legislation should limit dark money in elections. (2026) source
Energy and climateA gradual shift to cleaner energy, driven by incentivesmedium
Said · medium confidence- Voted for the Inflation Reduction Act, which used tax credits and incentives to speed a shift to cleaner energy. (2022-08-12) source
- Voted against the Lower Energy Costs Act, which expanded oil, gas and mineral production. (2023-03-30) source
- Her campaign platform says she treats climate change as urgent, helped pass the largest clean energy investment in U.S. history, and is focused on expanding clean energy. (2026) source
Trade and tariffsFree trade with strong labor and environmental standardsmedium
Said · medium confidence- In her first campaign she pledged to defeat border tariffs, defend gains from trade, and seek stronger protections for workers, businesses and the environment in any renegotiated NAFTA. (2018) source
Qualified immunityNo, end it for police so officers or departments can be sued for rights violationsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which would end qualified immunity for police officers in civil rights lawsuits. (2021-03-03) source
Safety net programsExpand help for childcare, housing and paid family leavemedium
Childcare and pre-KOffer free pre-K to every 4-year-old, and expand childcare aidmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted for the Build Back Better Act, which funded free universal pre-K and expanded childcare aid. (2021-11-19) source
Drug pricesNegotiate more drugs and extend the insulin and yearly cost caps to private insurancemedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted for the Affordable Insulin Now Act, which would cap insulin costs at $35 a month for people with Medicare and private insurance. (2022-03-31) source
MarijuanaLegalize it and clear past convictionsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted for the MORE Act, which would remove marijuana from federal drug schedules and clear past federal marijuana convictions. (2022-04-01) source
Aid to UkraineRestore strong U.S. aid and add tougher sanctions on Russiamedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted for the $40 billion Ukraine aid package in May 2022. (2022-05-10) source
- Voted for the $61 billion Ukraine security supplemental in April 2024. (2024-04-20) source
- Voted for the Ukraine Support Act, which provides military aid and loans to Ukraine and new sanctions on Russia. (2026-06-04) source
Social SecurityNo single answer fitsmedium
Said · medium confidence- Her campaign platform says she will protect Social Security without cuts or privatization and supports expanding Medicare to cover dental, vision and hearing care. (2026) source
Minimum wageNo single answer fitsmedium
Said · medium confidence- Her campaign platform says she supports raising the minimum wage. (2026) source
Transgender athletesNo single answer fitslow
Voted · low confidenceE-Verify mandateNo single answer fitslow
Voted · low confidence- Voted against the Secure the Border Act, which would require all employers to use E-Verify. (2023-05-11) source
Mandatory minimumsNo single answer fitslow
Student loansNo single answer fitslow
Voted · low confidence- Voted against overturning the Biden administration's broad student loan debt cancellation. (2023-06-21) source
No public position found on: National debt, Business regulation, Foreign policy, Judges, Term limits, Electoral College, Supreme Court reform, Death penalty, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, Birthright citizenship, DEI programs, Religion in schools, China policy.
Last reviewed 2026-10-19. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.