Who is running for U.S. House, Texas District 8 in 2026?
Here are the candidates for U.S. House, Texas District 8 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for voters in U.S. House District 8.
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 | Jessica Hart SteinmannRepublican | Laura JonesDemocrat |
|---|---|---|
| Income taxes | No single answer fits; see evidence | Raise taxes on the highest earners and corporations to pay for programsSaid · medium |
| Social Security | No public position | Expand benefits and fund it with higher taxes on the wealthyQuestionnaire answer · medium |
| Minimum wage | No public position | Raise it higher and tie it to the cost of livingSaid · medium |
| Healthcare | No single answer fits; see evidence | Government-run coverage for everyone (Medicare for All)Said · medium |
| Abortion | Illegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestQuestionnaire answer · low | No public position |
| Guns | Keep current laws and enforce what is already on the booksQuestionnaire answer · medium | No public position |
| Immigration | No single answer fits; see evidence | Much more open immigration with less enforcementSaid · low |
| Energy and climate | Maximize oil and gas; climate rules hurt the economySaid · medium | An aggressive shift to clean energy with firm deadlinesQuestionnaire answer · medium |
| Supreme Court reform | No public position | Add term limits and ethics rules, and expand the Court beyond nine seatsQuestionnaire answer · medium |
| Childcare and pre-K | No public position | Offer free pre-K to every 4-year-old, and expand childcare aidQuestionnaire answer · medium |
| Student loans | No public position | Cancel large amounts of debt and make public college tuition-freeQuestionnaire answer · medium |
| AI regulation | Keep rules minimal so AI companies can innovate freelySaid · medium | No public position |
| Transgender athletes | No, teams should be based on biological sex, with open or coed optionsSaid · medium | No public position |
| Aid to Israel | No single answer fits; see evidence | End itQuestionnaire answer · medium |
Jessica Hart Steinmann
RepublicanPrivate citizen (attorney)
Jessica Hart Steinmann is an attorney who served as executive general counsel at the America First Policy Institute and directed the U.S. Justice Department's Office for Victims of Crime during President Trump's first term24. She earlier worked for U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and won the March 3, 2026 Republican primary with nearly 70 percent of the vote25.
Where they stand 12 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
GunsKeep current laws and enforce what is already on the booksmedium
Questionnaire answer · medium confidence- Wrote in a candidate questionnaire that public safety is best served by enforcing existing laws and prosecuting violent offenders, not by imposing new restrictions on responsible gun owners. (2026) source
Transgender athletesNo, teams should be based on biological sex, with open or coed optionsmedium
Said · medium confidenceEnergy and climateMaximize oil and gas; climate rules hurt the economymedium
Said · medium confidence- Her campaign site says Washington must end crippling restrictions and unleash American energy to make the U.S. the dominant energy producer. (2026) source
- Wrote in a candidate questionnaire that the most reliable way to meet growing electricity demand is unleashing American energy, especially oil and natural gas. (2026) source
AI regulationKeep rules minimal so AI companies can innovate freelymedium
Said · medium confidence- Her campaign site says the U.S. must cut the burdensome regulations that slow innovation so it can lead China in artificial intelligence. (2026) source
AbortionIllegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestlow
Questionnaire answer · low confidence- Strongly agreed in a candidate questionnaire that human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death, writing that laws should protect the unborn. (2026) source
HealthcareNo single answer fitsmedium
Questionnaire answer · medium confidence- Chose keeping Medicare and Medicaid, with reforms, while opposing government-run health care in favor of private coverage with more competition and choice. (2026) source
Foreign policyNo single answer fitsmedium
Questionnaire answer · medium confidence- Chose the questionnaire answer that the U.S. has become too involved in other nations' policies, writing that foreign policy should focus on defending the U.S. and engaging abroad only when U.S. security is directly at stake, with limited cases where supporting allies serves U.S. interests. (2026) source
Aid to IsraelNo single answer fitsmedium
Questionnaire answer · medium confidence- Wrote in a candidate questionnaire that the relationship with Israel is vital to U.S. national security and that Israel is America's strongest ally in the Middle East. (2026) source
National debtNo single answer fitsmedium
Questionnaire answer · medium confidence- Strongly agreed that the government should cut spending to reduce the debt and listed passing a balanced budget and eliminating the Department of Education among her priorities. (2026) source
Income taxesNo single answer fitsmedium
Questionnaire answer · medium confidence- Strongly disagreed in a candidate questionnaire that people who can afford to pay more taxes should do so to provide relief for working families. (2026) source
ImmigrationNo single answer fitsmedium
Said · medium confidence- Her campaign site pledges to finish the border wall, end catch-and-release and restore law and order at the southern border. (2026) source
- Wrote in a candidate questionnaire that the U.S. should allow legal immigration through secure, orderly processes and stop entry from countries sending violence into the U.S. (2026) source
DEI programsNo single answer fitsmedium
Said · medium confidence- Her campaign site says she led investigations into higher education's DEI practices. (2026) source
No public position found on: Social Security, Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Trade and tariffs, 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, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, Birthright citizenship, E-Verify mandate, Religion in schools, Aid to Ukraine, China policy.
Laura Jones
DemocratPrivate citizen (real estate agent and small business owner)
Laura Jones is a Houston-born real estate agent and small business owner from San Jacinto County who has chaired the San Jacinto County Democrats34. This is her fourth run for District 8; she lost the 2022 and 2024 general elections to U.S. Rep. Morgan Luttrell3.
Where they stand 10 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
HealthcareGovernment-run coverage for everyone (Medicare for All)medium
Minimum wageRaise it higher and tie it to the cost of livingmedium
Said · medium confidence- Her campaign site says the federal minimum wage should be raised and tied to the cost of living. (2026) source
Income taxesRaise taxes on the highest earners and corporations to pay for programsmedium
Said · medium confidenceStudent loansCancel large amounts of debt and make public college tuition-freemedium
Questionnaire answer · medium confidence- Said she supports federal student debt cancellation and tuition-free public college. (2026-08-02) source
Aid to IsraelEnd itmedium
Questionnaire answer · medium confidence- Said she supports ending U.S. military aid to governments engaged in ongoing human rights abuses, including Israel and Egypt. (2026-08-02) source
Supreme Court reformAdd term limits and ethics rules, and expand the Court beyond nine seatsmedium
Questionnaire answer · medium confidence- Said she supports both term limits for Supreme Court justices and expanding the Court. (2026-08-02) source
Energy and climateAn aggressive shift to clean energy with firm deadlinesmedium
Questionnaire answer · medium confidence- Said yes when asked whether she supports a Green New Deal or similar large-scale federal climate plan, calling for bold federal climate investment. (2026-08-02) source
Social SecurityExpand benefits and fund it with higher taxes on the wealthymedium
Questionnaire answer · medium confidence- Told Community Impact she will fight to protect and expand Social Security. (2026-01-22) source
Childcare and pre-KOffer free pre-K to every 4-year-old, and expand childcare aidmedium
ImmigrationMuch more open immigration with less enforcementlow
Said · low confidence- The Houston Chronicle editorial board reported that her platform includes abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (2026-02-14) source
No public position found on: National debt, Safety net programs, Business regulation, Abortion, Guns, Trade and tariffs, Foreign policy, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Redistricting, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Paid leave, 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.
Last reviewed 2026-10-19. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.