Texas 38th District
Wesley Hunt (R) gave up the seat to run for U. 3 candidates were on the ballot on November 3, 2026.
Who should win this race, and why?Say what you think. Other readers can answer you.DiscussJon Bonck
Republican · mortgage broker and business owner
ALiberty Score A100 out of 100 across 4 principles. Graded on what Bonck has said and done, because I have no votes in Congress to count for Bonck.
Raised $2,202,298 since January 2025: 51% from people, 20% the candidate’s own money, 15% from PACs and other committees. The filing at FEC.gov
Melissa McDonough
Democrat · election worker and 2024 nominee for this seat
FLiberty Score F43 out of 100 across 7 principles. Graded on what McDonough has said and done, because I have no votes in Congress to count for McDonough.
Raised $124,711 since January 2025: 60% from people, 39% the candidate’s own money, 1% from the party. The filing at FEC.gov
Higher on Liberty Score: Jon Bonck. Jon Bonck: A, 100 out of 100 from words and actions, with no votes in Congress to count. Melissa McDonough: F, 43 out of 100 from words and actions, with no votes in Congress to count.
Voting in Texas: how to register, vote early or vote by mail. Election Day was November 3.
Side by side
A solid letter is a grade from recorded votes on that principle. An outlined letter is on the same scale, for a candidate with no votes: it comes from what that candidate has said and done, and every source is listed below.
Jon Bonck, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Bonck, so the grade above comes from this list: what Bonck has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
-
He says Israel is one of the closest and most reliable US allies.
“Israel is one of America's closest and most reliable allies”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Calling Israel an ally is the with side of the measure.
-
His campaign site says no more blank checks for foreign wars.
“No more blank checks for foreign wars. Put America first.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
It names no country or aid bill, so it does not settle Ukraine or NATO.
-
He says taxpayer-funded health care should be abolished and Medicaid and Medicare defunded.
“Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Opposing government-run health care is the with side of the measure.
-
His campaign site lists no gender ideology under defending kids.
“No gender ideology.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Opposing gender ideology in schools is the with side of the measure.
-
He says the phrase separation of church and state is not in the Constitution.
“The phrase "separation of church and state" does not appear anywhere in the U.S. Constitution.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
The words describe the text of the Constitution and name no law or policy, so they do not settle the measure.
-
His campaign site says to finish the wall.
“Finish the wall. End the invasion. Put Texas first.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Finishing a border wall is the with side of the measure.
-
He says the government must secure the border and enforce existing laws.
“secure the border, enforce existing laws, and fix a broken system”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Securing the border and enforcing the law is the with side of the measure.
Melissa McDonough, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for McDonough, so the grade above comes from this list: what McDonough has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
-
On the questionnaire she says she rejects the term Islamic terrorism because it associates a peaceful religion with extremists.
“I reject the term "Islamic terrorism" because it unfairly associates a peaceful religion with the acts of extremists.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Treating the naming of Islamic terrorism as bigotry is against liberty on tyranny.
-
Her platform says Israel is an ally with a right to defend itself.
“Israel is America's ally, and they have a right to defend themselves from foreign attacks.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Calling Israel an ally and backing its right to defend itself is the with side of the measure.
-
Her platform says to keep supporting Ukraine with old US military equipment.
“We should continue to support Ukraine with our old military equipment”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Backing Ukraine against Russia is the with side of the measure.
-
On a voter-guide questionnaire she says unconditional military support to Israel runs counter to US interests and she would condition military funding on international law.
“Providing unconditional military support to Israel runs counter to U.S. interests. I support conditioning all military funding on strict compliance with international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Conditioning weapons or aid to Israel on law is against liberty on free nations.
-
In a church and state answer on the questionnaire she says she would defend free expression from government overreach.
“defend free expression from government overreach to ensure dignity and safety for all”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Opposing government overreach against expression is the with side of the free_speech measure.
-
On the questionnaire she says she supports a single-payer system with nationalized insurance.
“I support a universal single-payer system where insurance is nationalized, but facilities can be privately owned and doctors self-employed.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Government-run health care for all is against liberty on free markets.
-
On the questionnaire she says she supports repealing tax cuts for the wealthy and closing corporate loopholes.
“I support repealing tax cuts for the wealthy and closing corporate loopholes to fund vital investments in public education, healthcare, housing, and Social Security.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Raising taxes by repealing named tax cuts is against liberty on free markets.
-
Her platform says Donald Trump's trade war with China cost Americans $80 billion in new taxes.
“Donald Trump’s trade war with China”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
She criticises the China trade war but does not say whether she would end broad tariffs, so the words do not settle a side.
-
On the questionnaire she says restricting transgender people from sports and public spaces is intolerance.
“Restricting transgender people from sports and public spaces promotes intolerance, ignorance, and cruelty against a vulnerable community.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Opposing sex-based limits in sport and single-sex spaces is against liberty on equal rights.
-
On the questionnaire she says no single religious definition of marriage should dictate civil law.
“In a pluralistic democracy, no single religious definition of marriage should dictate civil law or deprive LGBTQ+ individuals of basic legal rights and dignities.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Keeping one religion's rules out of civil law is with liberty on conscience.
-
In the 2024 Community Impact Q&A she lists fund the border among her policies.
“Fund the border.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
She does not say what the money buys, so the words do not settle a side.
-
Her platform says to streamline immigration rather than spend on barriers.
“Instead of wasting taxpayer money on ineffective barriers, we should be streamlining the immigration process.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Rejecting a border barrier is the against side of the measure.
-
On the questionnaire she says the country needs a clear roadmap to citizenship for Dreamers, DACA recipients and long-term residents.
“we need a clear roadmap to citizenship for Dreamers, DACA recipients, and long-term residents”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
A path to citizenship for people here illegally is against liberty on borders.
-
On the questionnaire she says local governments should cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
“Local governments should enforce laws equally and cooperate with federal immigration authorities to maintain public safety and the rule of law.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Opposing sanctuary policies is with liberty on borders.
Also on the ballot
Alex McMenemy (Green).
Who is on the ballot: the state election offices, as listed on Wikipedia on November 3, 2026, checked against the candidate file of the Federal Election Commission. See a name that is wrong or missing? Say so in the discussion.
Who should win this race, and why?
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Discussion
Texas 38th District
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