Melissa McDonough has sold real estate in the Houston area for about 30 years while also volunteering as a lobbyist on Capitol Hill for two decades.
McDonough is a longtime Harris County realtor, mother, and community organizer who won the Democratic nomination outright in the March 2026 primary with 51.6% of the vote. She describes her campaign around finding a "purple solution" and common ground, focusing on healthcare costs, public education funding, and housing affordability.
McDonough’s take on Texas values
Her platform calls to "defend democracy" and "make voting easier for everyone," opposing measures that restrict ballot access. [melissaforcongress.com]