Texas House District 31 2026

Compare candidates running in this Texas federal race. Review their positions, voting records, campaign promises, and donor information.

Greg Stoker

Party: Green

Justin Early

Party: Democrat

John Carter

Party: Republican

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Texas House District 31

Election: Nov 3, 2026Updated: Apr 10, 2026
📊Polling
Limited polling data available for the 2026 general election. The Republican primary held March 3, 2026 showed John Carter winning with 60% of the vote. Democratic primary winner Justin Early received 57% in his primary matchup.
likely r— Cook Partisan Voter Index (R+11)

This district leans heavily Republican with a Cook Partisan Voter Index of R+11, making it the 105th most Republican district nationally. While Democrats have a challenging path to victory, the seat is not completely safe due to changing demographics and the need for strong Republican turnout in what could be an unfavorable midterm environment for the GOP.

Greg StokerG
Justin EarlyD
John CarterR

Summary

Greg Stoker is a Green Party candidate, former U.S. Army Ranger, and four-time Afghanistan combat veteran running for Congress in Texas' 31st Congressional District. Stoker is now known as an anti-war activist and host of the Colonial Outcasts podcast. He has nearly half a million followers on Instagram as a political influencer and writes for MintPress News. Stoker was detained by Israel in October 2025 while participating in the Global Sumud Flotilla, which aimed to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. He was also arrested in January 2026 alongside other Veterans for Peace members for disrupting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's Senate confirmation hearing, protesting Washington's support for Israel and lack of support for U.S. veterans.

Justin Early is a cybersecurity architect at Dell Technologies and U.S. Army veteran running as a Democrat in Texas' 31st Congressional District. Early defeated Stuart Whitlow in the Democratic primary on March 3, 2026, with 57% of the vote. A native of Killeen who grew up in a military family, Early has spent over six years in the military and now works in cybersecurity at Dell Technologies. He lives in Georgetown with his wife Toni and has seven adult children. Early has served as a Democratic precinct chair in Tarrant County and was a presidential delegate during Barack Obama's 2008 campaign. His campaign focuses on lowering costs for working families, supporting veterans, protecting social security, and regulating artificial intelligence.

John Carter is a 12-term Republican congressman who has represented Texas' 31st Congressional District since 2003. Born November 6, 1941, in Houston, Carter earned his B.A. from Texas Tech University in 1964 and his J.D. from the University of Texas in 1969. Before his congressional career, he served as a District Court Judge in Williamson County from 1981 to 2001. Carter is the third longest-serving member of the current U.S. House. At 84 years old, Carter won his Republican primary on March 3, 2026, with 60% of the vote despite facing nine challengers including social media figures Valentina Gomez and Vince Offer (the "ShamWow Guy"). President Donald Trump endorsed Carter for re-election in December 2025.

View Greg Stoker's Full Profile →View Justin Early's Full Profile →View John Carter's Full Profile →

Campaign Promises

Other
  • New Type of Politics
  • Non-Partisan Campaign
  • Reject Culture Wars and Identity Politics
Economy
  • End Corporate Exploitation
Economy
  • Protect Social Security
  • Lower Costs for Working Families
Defense
  • Support Veterans
Technology
  • AI Regulation and Responsible Innovation
Justice
  • Protect Democracy and Election Security
Healthcare
  • Support Working Families on Healthcare
Education
  • Education and Childcare
Immigration
  • Border Security & Immigration
Justice
  • Law & Order
Defense
  • Veterans Support
Other
  • Faith & Family Values

Key Issue Positions

Data Centers and AI
Opposes unregulated data center development and AI expansion without safeguards
Criticizes wealthy corporations exploiting communities with lower property tax revenue; concerns about impacts on power grids, water systems, and national security; questions whether AI bubble will burst without yielding jobs or economic benefits
Anti-War
Strong anti-war activist opposing U.S. military interventions
Has participated in pro-Palestine activism, disrupted Hegseth confirmation hearing to protest U.S. support for Israel and lack of veteran support, was detained in Gaza aid mission
Veterans Rights
Advocates for better veteran support and benefits
As a veteran himself, Stoker protests Washington's lack of support for veterans; participated in Veterans for Peace activism
Party Politics
Rejects both major parties as serving billionaire interests
Argues both Democrats and Republicans are owned by the same tech billionaire interests; describes Texas as a non-voting state due to culture wars and identity politics
Cost of Living
Prioritizes lowering costs for working families including healthcare, housing, and education
Campaign emphasizes addressing rising costs affecting families, particularly single parents working multiple jobs and teachers struggling to afford rent
Veterans Support
Strongly advocates for veterans' rights and benefits
As an Army veteran himself, Early emphasizes veterans are left behind by broken systems and VA offices in Central Texas have faced layoffs; calls for elimination of VA claims and care backlog
Social Security Protection
Opposes Social Security privatization and supports expansion
Campaign focuses on preventing billionaires from privatizing Social Security and expanding benefits for seniors who have contributed their whole lives
Cybersecurity and AI Regulation
Advocates for responsible AI development and strong cybersecurity measures
Early argues AI is moving faster than laws and oversight; concerned about data center impacts on power grids, water systems, and national security; supports federal standards for cybersecurity
Climate and Clean Energy
Supports Green New Deal and clean energy transition
Believes meeting energy demand with cleaner energy is essential to protecting air, water, public health, and long-term economic stability
Border Security
Supports strict border enforcement and immigration restrictions
Carter's congressional website emphasizes the impact of porous borders and illegal immigration on Texas
Veterans Affairs
Strong advocate for veterans benefits and military support
As top Republican on Appropriations subcommittee handling military construction and veterans issues, Carter has championed VA expansion in his district
Age and Health
Has downplayed age concerns
At 84 years old, Carter faces questions about his fitness for office; his opponents highlighted his age as a campaign issue

Top Donors

No donor data available.

No donor data available.

No donor data available.

Contradictions

No contradictions documented.

No contradictions documented.

Claim: Carter claimed to support fiscal responsibility and oppose wasteful spending
Contradiction: Carter voted against the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, which was intended to address fiscal concerns, putting him among Republican hardliners who opposed spending limits

What Opponents Say

No opponent claims documented.

No opponent claims documented.

Justin Early

Congressman John Carter has voted to strip healthcare from 17 million Americans, including 1.6 million Texans

Early campaign statement criticizing Carter's healthcare votes

Justin Early

Carter slashed Pell Grant funding and defunded SNAP food assistance affecting 3.6 million Texans

Early's campaign statement on Carter's voting record on social programs

Justin Early

Carter ignored veterans while VA offices in Central Texas faced layoffs due to the current administration

Early's campaign messaging on veterans' issues

Valentina Gomez (Primary opponent)

Carter has a horrible health condition

Gomez alleged during the primary that Carter's health was a concern, though she provided no specific medical evidence

Endorsements

No endorsements listed.

No endorsements listed.

President Donald Trumpindividual