Alex
Mealer
Republican nominee for Texas's 9th Congressional District; Army veteran, former energy-finance executive, and small-business owner
- sources
- 16
- positions
- 9
- endorsements
- 30
Background
Alex Mealer is the 2026 Republican nominee for Texas's 9th Congressional District (TX-09), a newly drawn Houston-area seat. She is not the incumbent; the district is open and she won the GOP nomination after defeating state Representative Briscoe Cain in the May 2026 primary runoff. 11410
Mealer is a West Point graduate who served in the U.S. Army as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal officer before earning a JD and MBA from Harvard Law School and Harvard Business School, respectively. She subsequently worked in Houston energy finance, advising on mergers and acquisitions and capital-markets transactions. She now describes herself as a small-business owner. 14
Prior to her congressional campaign, Mealer served as an appointed member of the Harris County METRO board, where she held the role of Public Safety Chair representing 14 municipalities in the service area. In 2022 she was the Republican nominee for Harris County judge but lost the general election to incumbent Lina Hidalgo. 1210
Mealer has received support from the Club for Growth and is listed by Combat Veterans for Congress. She lives in Houston, Texas. 45
At a glance
- Party
- Republican
- Running for
- U.S. House · District 9, Texas
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Current office
- Small-business owner; Republican nominee for TX-09 (U.S. House)
- Website
- alexandramealer.com(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Oct 7newsAnthropic-linked Public First Action network spent ~$750K to support Mealer in primary
A report published October 7 said Anthropic's Public First Action network spent almost $750,000 to support Mealer during the primary. The reporting concerned outside-group spending, not direct contributions to Mealer's campaign.
AI-linked groups spent $3.5M to boost these Texas ... · Oct 7, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 4newsNo Going Back PAC reported to have spent ~$285,000 in TX-9 to support Mealer
The Hill reported that No Going Back PAC had spent about $285,000 in Texas's 9th District, with Reuters having previously characterized this spending as direct mail intended to support Mealer.
Donald Trump unleashes war chest in key House, Senate races · Oct 4, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 2newsHouse Democrats add TX-9 to expanded target list, citing redrawn district
An AP report said House Democrats expanded their midterm target list to include Texas's 9th District. The report noted the seat was redrawn to favor Republicans and cited Inside Elections' 'Likely Republican' rating.
House Democrats grow more bullish about midterms as ... · Oct 2, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 30newsMealer has raised $2.1M; over $4.8M in outside-group support reported
AP and Texas Tribune race guides reported Mealer raised about $2.1 million, spent $1.7 million, and held $362,000 cash on hand. More than $4.8 million in outside-group support for Mealer was reported, nearly all during the primary, including $1.1M from Club for Growth Action, $750K from Veterans Duty Fund, $636K from Defending Our Values PAC, and $616K from Win It Back PAC.
Texas congressional races 2026: Who is running and what ... · Sep 30, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 30endorsementAP race guide lists Mealer endorsements from Scalise, Emmer, Babin, and others
The AP race guide listed endorsements for Mealer from House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Majority Whip Tom Emmer, Rep. Brian Babin, the National Border Patrol Council, the Texas Municipal Police Association, and later from former primary opponent Briscoe Cain.
Texas congressional races 2026: Who is running and what ... · Sep 30, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 29newsNYT reports AI-aligned groups spent heavily in 2026 races including TX-9
A New York Times analysis reported that political groups aligned with major AI developers had spent heavily in 2026 congressional races, including in Texas's 9th District where Mealer is the Republican nominee.
A.I. Groups Are Spending Millions to Influence the Midterms · Sep 29, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 25newsReuters reports No Going Back PAC sending direct mail to support Mealer in TX-9
Reuters described No Going Back PAC as sending direct mail intended to support Mealer, characterizing the activity as outside-group spending in the district.
Why 3 Texas US House races are worrying Republicans. See which ones · Sep 25, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 22newsSabato's Crystal Ball shifts Mealer–Gutierrez race toward Democrats, still favors Mealer
The Hill reported that Sabato's Crystal Ball updated its rating of the TX-9 race in Democrats' favor, though the race was still considered likely to favor Mealer. Cook Political Report separately rated the race 'Likely Republican.'
Sabato’s Crystal Ball moves 3 Senate, 4 gubernatorial races in Democrats’ favor · Sep 22, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 18pollPPP poll shows Mealer leading Gutierrez 45%–39% in TX-9
A Public Policy Polling survey conducted September 18–19, described as a Democratic internal poll, found Mealer at 45% and Gutierrez at 39%, with 16% undecided, among 560 registered voters. Results were reported September 30.
TX-9 House polls 2026: Mealer vs. Gutierrez · Sep 19, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Jul 24newsMealer 'urges patience' after Houston ICE shooting, contrasting with Democratic Rep. Garcia
The Texas Tribune reported that after a Houston ICE shooting, Democratic Rep. Sylvia Garcia demanded answers while Mealer urged patience, highlighting a contrast between the two figures on the issue.
2026 Texas congressional races: Who is running and what ... · Sep 30, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - May 26filingMealer wins Republican runoff by nearly 40 points after Trump endorsement
Alex Mealer won the May 26 Republican runoff against state Rep. Briscoe Cain by nearly 40 points, after President Donald Trump endorsed her, securing the Republican nomination for Texas's 9th Congressional District.
Texas congressional races 2026: Who is running and what ... · Sep 30, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Endorsements
- U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan officialReported as endorser by The Texan on May 26, 2026; no endorsement date given. thetexan.news
- House Majority Leader Steve Scalise officialListed as endorser in Texas Tribune September 30, 2026 voter guide; no endorsement date given. texastribune.org
- Harris County Commissioner Tom Ramsey officialListed on campaign endorsement page and reported by The Texan; no date given. alexandramealer.com
- Mayor Rick Helton (La Porte) officialListed on campaign endorsement page; no date given. alexandramealer.com
- Mayor Andy Conner (Dayton) officialListed on campaign endorsement page; no date given. alexandramealer.com
- Briscoe Cain officialMealer's former Republican runoff opponent; listed as endorser in Texas Tribune voter guide; no date given. texastribune.org
- Winning for Women organizationListed on campaign endorsement page; no date given. alexandramealer.com
- Maggie's List organizationListed on campaign endorsement page; no date given. alexandramealer.com
- National Border Patrol Council unionListed on campaign endorsement page and independently reported by Texas Tribune; no date given. alexandramealer.com
- Texas State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police organizationListed on campaign endorsement page; no date given. alexandramealer.com
- The "C" Club of Houston organizationListed on campaign endorsement page; no date given. alexandramealer.com
- Associated Builders and Contractors organizationListed on campaign endorsement page; no date given. alexandramealer.com
- Pasadena Police Officers' Union unionListed on campaign endorsement page; no date given. alexandramealer.com
- Deer Park Police Association unionListed on campaign endorsement page; no date given. alexandramealer.com
- Houston Metro Police Union Lodge 98 unionListed on campaign endorsement page; no date given. alexandramealer.com
- Baytown Municipal Police Association unionListed on campaign endorsement page; no date given. alexandramealer.com
- La Porte Police Officers' Association unionListed on campaign endorsement page; no date given. alexandramealer.com
- U.S. Rep. Brian Babin officialReported as endorser by The Texan on May 26, 2026; no endorsement date given. thetexan.news
- House Majority Whip Tom Emmer officialListed as endorser in Texas Tribune September 30, 2026 voter guide; no endorsement date given. texastribune.org
- Mayor Jerry Mouton Jr. (Deer Park) officialListed on campaign endorsement page; no date given. alexandramealer.com
- Mayor John Hebert Jr. (Liberty) officialListed on campaign endorsement page; no date given. alexandramealer.com
- Mayor Danny Lee (Cleveland) officialListed on campaign endorsement page; no date given. alexandramealer.com
- With Honor Fund III organizationListed on campaign endorsement page; no date given. alexandramealer.com
- SEAL PAC organizationListed on campaign endorsement page; no date given. alexandramealer.com
- Texas Municipal Police Association organizationListed on campaign endorsement page and independently reported by Texas Tribune; no date given. alexandramealer.com
- Houston Region Business Coalition organizationListed on campaign endorsement page; no date given. alexandramealer.com
- American Chemistry Council organizationListed on campaign endorsement page; no date given. alexandramealer.com
- Seafarers International Union unionListed on campaign endorsement page; no date given. alexandramealer.com
- President Donald Trump officialEndorsed Mealer on February 16, 2026, per The Conservative Ledger; reported by Houston Chronicle on February 17. theconservativeledger.com · Feb 16, 2026
- Club for Growth organizationClub for Growth candidate page gives endorsement date of January 28, 2026. clubforgrowth.org · Jan 28, 2026
Campaign finance
Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.
- Raised
- $2.08M
- Spent
- $1.72M
- Cash on hand
- $362K
As of Jun 30, 2026. Filings are periodic, so recent money may not be included yet. ↳ FEC record H6TX09140(opens in a new tab)
Sources 16
- [1] AI-linked groups spent $3.5M to boost these Texas ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 7, 2026
- [2] Donald Trump unleashes war chest in key House, Senate races(opens in a new tab) Oct 4, 2026
- [3] House Democrats grow more bullish about midterms as ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 2, 2026
- [4] About | Alex Mealer for Congress | TX-09(opens in a new tab) Oct 1, 2026
- [5] Alex Mealer for Congress | TX-09(opens in a new tab) Oct 1, 2026
- [6] 2026 Texas congressional races: Who is running and what ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 30, 2026
- [7] Texas congressional races 2026: Who is running and what ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 30, 2026
- [8] A.I. Groups Are Spending Millions to Influence the Midterms(opens in a new tab) Sep 29, 2026
- [9] Why 3 Texas US House races are worrying Republicans. See which ones(opens in a new tab) Sep 25, 2026
- [10] Sabato’s Crystal Ball moves 3 Senate, 4 gubernatorial races in Democrats’ favor(opens in a new tab) Sep 22, 2026
- [11] TX-9 House polls 2026: Mealer vs. Gutierrez(opens in a new tab) Sep 19, 2026
- [12] Alex Mealer | Biography & Public Record — The Conservative Ledger(opens in a new tab) Sep 17, 2026
- [13] Endorsements | Alex Mealer for Congress | TX-09(opens in a new tab) Sep 16, 2026
- [14] Alex Mealer - Club for Growth(opens in a new tab) Sep 15, 2026
- [15] Mealer Defeats State Rep. Cain in GOP Primary Runoff for New Houston-Area Congressional District(opens in a new tab) May 26, 2026
- [16] In Houston, Alex Mealer pushes herself as Trump's choice(opens in a new tab) May 13, 2026