Texas 8th District
Morgan Luttrell (R) is not running again. 2 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.DiscussLaura Jones
Democrat · community activist, former county party chair
No gradeNo grade yetI have no votes in Congress to count for Jones, and what Jones has said and done settles only 1 of my principles. I went through it on October 26. A grade needs 4.
Raised $30,782 since January 2025: 90% from people, 9% from PACs and other committees, 1% from the party. The filing at FEC.gov
Jessica Hart Steinmann
Republican · lawyer, former Justice Department official
ALiberty Score A100 out of 100 across 5 principles. Graded on what Steinmann has said and done, because I have no votes in Congress to count for Steinmann.
Raised $2,441,284 since January 2025: 36% from people, 27% the candidate’s own money, 19% from PACs and other committees. The filing at FEC.gov
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.
Laura Jones, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Jones, so the grade above comes from this list: what Jones has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
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She lists Medicare for All among her priorities in a newspaper Q&A.
“Securing a living wage for working-class Americans, Medicare for All, and funding education from pre-K through trade school.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Government-run health care for all is against liberty on free markets.
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She says she would institute rent control to cap rates.
“I will fight for seniors 65+ to pay no property tax, institute rent control to cap rates, create incentives to lower home prices, and expand down payment assistance.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Rent control is against liberty on free markets.
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She says bringing everyone into the health system and letting the government negotiate prices is the way to cut costs.
“The only real way to bring down costs is to bring everyone into the system and allow the government to negotiate prices.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Government health coverage for all and government price negotiation are against liberty on free markets.
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Her BallotReady profile says everyone should live openly and without discrimination regardless of how they identify.
“Everyone deserves to live openly, safely, and without discrimination—no matter who they love or how they identify.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
It states a general anti-discrimination view with no rule on sport, schools or prisons, so it does not settle the equal rights test.
Jessica Hart Steinmann, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Steinmann, so the grade above comes from this list: what Steinmann has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
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She says the relationship with Israel is vital to national security and that standing with Israel makes America safer.
“Standing with Israel makes America safer and stronger.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Standing with Israel as an ally is with liberty on free nations.
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She says foreign policy should focus on defending the US and engage abroad only when security is directly at stake, while allowing support for allies in limited cases.
“our foreign policy should remain focused on defending the United States and engaging abroad only when our security is directly at stake.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
The words name no country or alliance, so they do not settle the measure.
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She says she defended the First Amendment rights of high school athletes who spoke out against boys in girls' sports.
“I’ve defended the First Amendment rights of high school track and field athletes who spoke out against boys in girls’ sports”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Defending athletes against official punishment for their speech is on the with side of free speech.
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She says government-run health care does not work and rejects socialism.
“Government-run healthcare does not work, and we cannot let America turn into a socialist country.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Rejecting government-run health care and socialism is with liberty on free markets.
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She says America needs to cut burdensome regulations on artificial intelligence.
“we need to cut the burdensome regulations that slow innovation and unleash pro-energy policies that power our economy and our tech sector.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Cutting regulation is with liberty on free markets.
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She says she has led investigations into university DEI practices and pushed back on federal gender and race policies.
“I’ve pushed back against the Biden Administration’s woke policies and led investigations into higher education’s DEI practices.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Opposing DEI in schools is on the with side of anti woke.
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She says she will finish the border wall and end catch and release.
“I will fight to finish President Trump’s wall, end catch-and-release, and restore law and order at our southern border.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
A wall and ending catch and release are with liberty on borders.
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 8th District
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