--- title: "Jones vs. Steinmann: 2026 Texas’ 8th District race" url: "https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-tx-08" updated: "2026-08-01" source: "Candidates' campaign sites and Ballotpedia, quoted verbatim" publisher: "Pluribus" --- # 2026 Texas’ 8th District race: Laura Jones (D) vs. Jessica Steinmann (R) Rating: Safe R · Election: November 3, 2026 · Ballot checked: October 9, 2026 · Positions captured: August 1, 2026 The 2026 election for Texas's 8th Congressional District is an open-seat matchup between Democratic nominee Laura Jones and Republican nominee Jessica Steinmann, following incumbent Morgan Luttrell's decision not to seek re-election. The race takes place under new district boundaries adopted during Texas's August 2025 redistricting. The contest hinges on Steinmann's conservative America First platform—centered on border security, energy dominance, and election integrity—versus Jones's populist agenda focused on living wages, Medicare for All, and rural infrastructure. ## Candidates - **Laura Jones** (Democrat) · [Campaign site](https://www.laura4tx.com) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Laura_Jones_%28Texas%29) - **Jessica Steinmann** (Republican) · [Campaign site](https://www.jessicasteinmann.com/) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jessica_Steinmann) ## Issues ### Cost of living, wages, and taxation Salience: high Jones proposes raising the minimum wage tied to cost of living and taxing corporations, while Steinmann focuses on cutting federal spending and unleashing domestic energy to lower consumer costs. **Laura Jones:** Supports higher minimum wage and progressive taxes Jones advocates raising the federal minimum wage and indexing it to the cost of living so full-time workers can afford housing and essentials. She supports lowering taxes for 99% of working families while increasing tax obligations on billionaires and major corporations. - Raise minimum wage and tie it to local cost of living - Lower taxes for 99% of working families - Increase taxes on billionaires and corporations to fund housing and infrastructure > “We should not only raise it, but tie it to the cost of living.” > — Laura Jones, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Laura_Jones_%28Texas%29) **Jessica Steinmann:** Supports cutting spending and tax relief Steinmann focuses on reducing reckless federal spending and prioritizing American families over global interests. She advocates for domestic energy production and deregulation to lower consumer costs and fuel economic growth. - Cut reckless federal spending - Prioritize American workers and families over global interests > “I will fight to keep our border secure, support our military, cut reckless spending, protect our religious liberty, and stand strong for families and freedom.” > — Jessica Steinmann, via [Campaign site](https://www.jessicasteinmann.com/) ### Healthcare Salience: high Jones advocates for Medicare for All and government price negotiation, whereas Steinmann opposes federal health mandates and highlighted her lawsuits against COVID-19 vaccine rules. **Laura Jones:** Supports Medicare for All and drug negotiation Jones views healthcare as a basic human right and advocates expanding Medicare for All to cover all Americans. She supports removing private insurance middlemen, enabling government price negotiation for prescription drugs, and expanding funding for community health centers. - Expand and improve Medicare for All - Authorize government negotiation for prescription drug and medical costs - Increase funding for rural community health centers providing medical, dental, and mental healthcare > “Access to healthcare is a basic human right, not a privilege tied to a job or the size of a paycheck.” > — Laura Jones, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Laura_Jones_%28Texas%29) **Jessica Steinmann:** Opposes federal health mandates Steinmann opposes government healthcare mandates and federal overreach into medical decisions. She highlights her legal representation of Air Force service members suing the Biden administration over COVID-19 vaccine mandates. - Represented 36 Air Force members in lawsuits against federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates - Opposes federal health mandates and government medical interventions > “I’ve defended the religious-liberty rights of our military, representing 36 members of the United States Air Force in their lawsuit against the Biden Administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandates.” > — Jessica Steinmann, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jessica_Steinmann) ### Energy and environment Salience: medium Steinmann advocates for expanding domestic oil and gas production by rolling back federal restrictions, while Jones prioritizes federal infrastructure investments for local flood mitigation. **Laura Jones:** Supports federal flood mitigation infrastructure Jones emphasizes the impact of natural disasters on rural Texas communities and advocates for federal investments in flood mitigation. In her past platform statements, she expressed interest in serving on environmental and climate committees to address local flooding crises. - Secure federal funding for rural flood mitigation projects - Improve infrastructure to reduce disaster relief burdens on FEMA > “I will focus on flood mitigation efforts to protect life and property during flooding events to reduce the burden on FEMA when a natural disaster does occur.” > — Laura Jones, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Laura_Jones_%28Texas%29) **Jessica Steinmann:** Supports expanding domestic oil and gas production Steinmann calls for eliminating federal restrictions on oil and gas exploration to make the United States energy dominant. She argues that abundant and affordable domestic energy is vital for national security and economic growth. - End federal restrictions on domestic oil and natural gas production - Promote American energy dominance and independence > “Now, we must end crippling restrictions and unleash American energy to make America the dominant energy producer in the world and protect our national security.” > — Jessica Steinmann, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jessica_Steinmann) ### Education, parental rights, and youth sports Salience: medium Steinmann champions parental rights and restricting transgender participation in female sports, whereas Jones focuses on expanding vocational trade programs, childcare access, and college affordability. **Laura Jones:** Supports affordable childcare and trade education Jones advocates for lowering childcare costs to support working families and making higher education accessible without heavy loan debt. She also promotes expanding vocational trade certifications in public high schools. - Invest in accessible childcare to keep parents in the workforce - Make higher education accessible without crippling debt - Offer trade certifications in public high schools for technical careers > “investing in accessible education and childcare strengthens families, grows our economy, and fuels American innovation.” > — Laura Jones, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Laura_Jones_%28Texas%29) **Jessica Steinmann:** Supports parental rights and restricting trans athletes Steinmann champions parental rights in public education and fights gender identity initiatives in schools. She led legal actions against Title IX revisions and partnered with Riley Gaines to sue Oregon over biological male athletes competing in girls' sports. - Protect parental rights against radical gender ideology in public schools - Bar biological males from competing in girls' scholastic sports - Sued the state of Oregon over Title IX violations in high school track and field > “I will continue to fight for parents — not the government — overseeing the upbringing of their children.” > — Jessica Steinmann, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jessica_Steinmann) ### Election integrity and governance Salience: medium Steinmann prioritizes stricter voter access laws and election litigation, while Jones advocates for congressional term limits. **Laura Jones:** Supports congressional term limits Jones supports structural governance reforms, including self-imposing a maximum limit of 5 terms (10 years) in Congress. She pledges to maintain accessible and direct representation for rural district residents. - Supports a 5-term (10-year) limit for members of Congress - Pledges direct representation for rural Texas communities > “I believe that no elected official should be in office for more than 5 terms.” > — Laura Jones, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Laura_Jones_%28Texas%29) **Jessica Steinmann:** Supports stricter voter laws and monitoring Steinmann assisted in drafting Texas's 2021 election integrity law and led litigation across the country to enforce voting regulations. She filed lawsuits regarding ballot drop box monitoring and investigated donation processes. - Helped draft Texas's 2021 election integrity legislation - Sued Arizona officials regarding polling place and drop box monitoring - Led an investigation into ActBlue contribution processes > “In 2021, I helped draft Texas’s landmark election integrity law, which drew national attention when Democrats fled the state in protest.” > — Jessica Steinmann, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jessica_Steinmann) ### Border security and immigration Salience: high **Laura Jones:** No documented position in our sources **Jessica Steinmann:** Supports border wall and strict enforcement Steinmann pledges to complete President Trump's border wall, end catch-and-release policies, and restore law and order at the southern border. She cites illegal immigration's links to human trafficking, crime, and fentanyl, pointing to her record of leading lawsuits against Biden administration border policies. - Finish President Trump's southern border wall - End catch-and-release policies - Led lawsuits challenging federal border policies > “I will fight to finish President Trump’s wall, end catch-and-release, and restore law and order at our southern border.” > — Jessica Steinmann, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jessica_Steinmann) ### Government weaponization and legal reform Salience: medium **Laura Jones:** No documented position in our sources **Jessica Steinmann:** Opposes political lawfare and government weaponization Steinmann pledges to combat government weaponization and political lawfare against political opponents. She sued Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg over his prosecution of Donald Trump and represented Trump's legal interests up to the Supreme Court. - Sued Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg over the prosecution of Donald Trump - Defended Donald Trump's rights at the U.S. Supreme Court - Fought executive orders on federal election operations and vaccine mandates > “To fight back, I sued Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, exposing his office’s connections with senior Biden officials in his unprecedented prosecution of President Trump.” > — Jessica Steinmann, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jessica_Steinmann) ### LGBTQ+ rights and civil rights Salience: low **Laura Jones:** Supports anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ Jones advocates for full anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ individuals. She maintains that protecting civil rights affirms human dignity and strengthens American democracy. - Protect LGBTQ+ individuals from discrimination - Affirm equal rights and dignity for all individuals > “Protecting LGBTQ+ communities strengthens our democracy and affirms the dignity and freedom of all people.” > — Laura Jones, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Laura_Jones_%28Texas%29) **Jessica Steinmann:** No documented position in our sources ### Technology, AI, and digital assets Salience: low **Laura Jones:** No documented position in our sources **Jessica Steinmann:** Supports AI leadership and pro-crypto regulation Steinmann advocates deregulating the tech sector and promoting energy production so the United States outpaces China in artificial intelligence. She supports clear, pro-growth rules for blockchain, cryptocurrency, and digital assets to protect economic freedom. - Cut regulations to ensure U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence over China - Establish pro-growth regulatory frameworks for digital assets and blockchain - Protect cryptocurrency entrepreneurs and keep innovation in the U.S. > “America must lead the world in artificial intelligence — not China.” > — Jessica Steinmann, via [Campaign site](https://www.jessicasteinmann.com/) ### Rural infrastructure and broadband Salience: low **Laura Jones:** Supports expanding rural broadband funding Jones highlights the absence of high-speed internet in rural East Texas communities and advocates for federal investments in broadband. She contends that internet connectivity is essential for education, career growth, and local business development. - Expand high-speed broadband internet to rural communities - Improve rural infrastructure to attract industrial investment and jobs > “Rural Texans need a voice in Congress that will speak to the importance of access to necessities like internet for education and career opportunities.” > — Laura Jones, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Laura_Jones_%28Texas%29) **Jessica Steinmann:** No documented position in our sources ## Polls and markets _Updated Oct 31._ - [Polymarket](https://polymarket.com/event/tx-08-house-election-winner) — TX-08 House Election Winner: Republicans 95.5%, Democrats 3.2% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXHOUSERACE-TX08-26) — TX-08 House winner?: Jessica Steinmann 96.0%, Laura Jones 4.9% [View this race on 2026election.com](https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-tx-08)