Eight candidates seek to replace U.S. Rep. Morgan Luttrell as the representative for Texas’ newly redrawn 8th Congressional District, which covers part of Walker County.
The candidates seeking their party’s nomination include businessman Brett Jensen, attorney Jessica Hart Steinmann and U.S. Army veteran Nick Tran for the Republicans, with Marine Corps veteran Keith Coleman and small business owner Laura Jones for the Democrats.
Even though Luttrell is not running for reelection and the district boundaries have been redrawn, Republicans are still expected to hold onto this seat. The Cook Political Report lists the zone as “strictly Republican,” when assessing its political makeup.
With six Republicans in the race, a runoff between the two leading candidates will likely determine who advances to November’s general election, a requirement when no candidate receives over 50% of the votes, according to Chapter 2 of the Texas Election Code.
The Houstonian reached out to everyone running but received only three responses: Jones, Coleman and Republican Deddrick Wilmer.
Jones won the Democratic nomination in 2024 for the District 8 seat but lost 233,423 to 108,754 to Luttrell. After four races, she remains dedicated to her passion for her community, she said in an interview on Feb. 21.
“I started running to create an infrastructure, a spiderweb through the Democratic Party,” Jones said, explaining that she wants to further spread her message for lowering the cost of life and creating equal accessibility to resources.
Wilmer, a finance expert, wants District 8 to know he plans to create stronger leaders with his campaign. He demands more forward-thinking influences.
“We are divided in culture, but not divided in our common goals as people,” said Wilmer, urging communities to unite regardless of background.
Campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Election Committee show that Jensen leads in fundraising with $2.5 million, followed by Steinmann with $1.5 million and Tran with $236,000.
Jensen maintained a completely self-financed run until suspending his campaign after President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Steinmann. Steinmann, a former Department of Justice employee, also received endorsements from Luttrell and Sen. Ted Cruz, supporting her America First values.
Though endorsements may increase recognition, this may not be the deciding factor for voters, said Robert Alvarez, an assistant professor in political science at Sam Houston State University.
“Each representative is beholden to their constituents, and a lot of the times there’s much more local concerns,” said Alvarez, explaining that voters often get tired of Washington-focused candidates, and want representatives who emphasize dedication to locals.
Tran’s campaign focuses on this aspect. He highlights redirecting power from D.C and pouring into communities, according to his campaign website, which may resonate with rural voters.
Although the SHSU College Republicans chapter does not endorse candidates, President Drake Serpas believes Steinmann’s time under the Trump administration may take her to the general election.
“I’ve seen a lot of signs; the response rates when people go out and door-knock are generally positive. She has the experience, and I think she would represent CD-8 really well,” said Serpas.
Sam Houston State University graduate student Omari Sandifer, who also serves as the political action chair for the university’s NAACP chapter, said he believes voters will be most influenced by candidates’ plans to address rising costs and public safety concerns.
“Everyone should feel safe in the communities around them,” Sandifer said, adding that clear plans from candidates could motivate voters to support them. Sandifer also emphasized the growing influence of younger voters, noting that increased youth voter registration and turnout could play a decisive role in determining the outcome of the race.
Coleman, in an interview, emphasized the importance of local representation in Congress.
“Walker County matters, and its priorities will not be overlooked in Washington,” he said, adding that voters should support his campaign if they want “steady, practical leadership focused on results rather than rhetoric.”
The primary elections will take place on Tuesday.
Eryn Davis contributed to this story.
