Patti Hale Ashe is running as an Independent candidate for Texas' 23rd Congressional District. Limited public information available about her background, platform, or campaign.
Katy Padilla Stout, age 40, is a San Antonio-based attorney and former elementary school teacher currently specializing in foster care law. Born and raised in San Antonio, she earned a B.S. in Education from UT-Austin and a law degree from South Texas College of Law Houston. Her professional background includes teaching in Northside ISD where she worked with ESL, special education, and gifted students, followed by legal practice representing children in the foster care system. She serves on the Bexar County Child Welfare Board since 2017. A first-time candidate, she won the Democratic primary with 52% of the vote on March 3, 2026, receiving more raw votes than any candidate in either party's primary that day.
Brandon Herrera, age 30, is a firearms manufacturer and social media personality known online as 'The AK Guy' with over 4 million YouTube subscribers. Born in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to a family with Texas roots and military parents, Herrera attended Campbell University where he studied pre-law before dropping out to build his firearms manufacturing business, Centurion Arms. He ran against incumbent Tony Gonzales in 2024 and lost the Republican primary runoff by just 354 votes. After forcing Gonzales into another runoff in 2026, Herrera became the presumptive Republican nominee when Gonzales withdrew over an affair scandal.