Who Brandon is
Before he was a congressional candidate, Brandon Herrera was a YouTuber known as "The AK Guy," famous for firing antique machine guns and building his own custom rifles.
About Brandon
Herrera grew up in a military family (though he never served himself), dropped out of Campbell University's pre-law program, and built a firearms company and YouTube channel into a business with over a million subscribers. He first ran for Texas's 23rd District in 2024 and narrowly lost the Republican runoff to incumbent Tony Gonzales; when Gonzales dropped out of the 2026 race, Herrera became the Republican nominee.
Where they stand
- Corruption & DemocracyUnknown
- Taxes & Cost of LivingUnknown
- Public EducationDisagree
- Health CareAgree
- Freedom, Family & FaithDisagree
- Immigration & Border SecurityAgree
- Public Safety & JusticeAgree
- Energy & EnvironmentUnknown
Also running for U.S. House • District 23
Everyone else on this ballot line. Tap a name to read more.
Katy Padilla StoutKaty Padilla Stout used to teach elementary school before becoming an attorney who represents kids in the foster care system.
About Katy
A San Antonio native and mother of four, Padilla Stout worked in national Democratic fundraising for Henry Muñoz, a former DNC finance chair, before turning to law and child advocacy. She entered the TX-23 race after Republican incumbent Tony Gonzales dropped out, and is running on affordability, healthcare access, and education, including universal pre-K.
Ben MendozaBen Mendoza is a perennial El Paso candidate who has run for U.S. House, El Paso mayor, and other offices multiple times since 2012 — including two Democratic primaries against Beto O'Rourke.
About Ben
He qualified as an Independent for the 23rd Congressional District in 2026; no detailed platform or campaign website could be found for this run.