Stout flips Texas’ 23rd District for Democrats
Stout won 51.7% of the vote to Herrera’s 44.5%, flipping the West Texas district in a contest that drew national attention. She is a San Antonio attorney and former teacher; Herrera is a gun-rights activist and YouTube personality. The district stretches between San Antonio and El Paso along much of the U.S.-Mexico border and includes the Big Bend region.
The seat became vacant after Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales resigned amid a scandal over an affair with a former staff member, who later died by suicide. Herrera had challenged Gonzales in the Republican primary before becoming the party’s nominee. President Donald Trump endorsed Herrera.
Herrera’s public comments became a campaign issue. Democrats drew attention to remarks and jokes on his YouTube channel and social media, including Nazi references and comments about women. The district has leaned Republican in recent presidential elections: Trump won it in 2024 by about 15 percentage points.
Stout said she would serve residents regardless of party or how they voted, and pledged to fight for them and their families. The win marks the first time a Democrat has captured the seat since 2012. Stout is set to serve a two-year House term, where both parties are competing for control.
Stout turns a Republican stronghold into a Democratic win
Voters in Texas’ 23rd District chose Democrat Katy Padilla Stout over Republican Brandon Herrera, handing Democrats a notable pickup in a district that has favored Republicans in recent presidential elections. Stout received 51.7% of the vote, compared with Herrera’s 44.5%.
The result shows Herrera’s controversial public profile could not carry a seat once held by Republican Tony Gonzales. Democrats focused attention on Herrera’s online remarks, including Nazi references and jokes about women. President Donald Trump endorsed him, while the district’s record of backing Trump underscored the challenge Stout faced.
Gonzales resigned after a scandal involving an affair with a former staff member who later died by suicide. Herrera had first challenged Gonzales in the Republican primary before becoming the party’s nominee. Stout, a lawyer from San Antonio who previously taught, said she would represent residents across party lines.
The district runs from San Antonio toward El Paso along much of the U.S.-Mexico border and includes the Big Bend region. Stout’s victory is the first Democratic win there since 2012. She will serve a two-year House term as control of the chamber remains contested.
Democrats seize a seat in a district Trump carried by 15 points
Democrat Katy Padilla Stout’s victory in Texas’ 23rd District gives her party a seat that Donald Trump carried by about 15 percentage points in 2024. Stout won 51.7% of the vote, while Republican Brandon Herrera received 44.5%.
The result comes in a district stretching from San Antonio to El Paso along much of the U.S.-Mexico border, including the Big Bend region. Republicans had held the seat since 2015, and Trump endorsed Herrera. The outcome hands Democrats a pickup in a district that has leaned Republican in recent presidential elections.
Herrera, a gun-rights activist and YouTube personality, faced scrutiny over past online remarks, including Nazi references and jokes about women. His opponent, Stout, is a San Antonio attorney and former teacher. She said she would serve constituents regardless of their party or vote.
The seat opened after Republican Tony Gonzales resigned amid a scandal involving an affair with a former staff member, who later died by suicide. Herrera had challenged Gonzales in the Republican primary before becoming the nominee. Stout’s win is the district’s first Democratic victory since 2012; she is to serve a two-year term in a closely contested House.
Reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Washington Examiner, KPRC 2 Click2Houston, FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth, CBS News.
