Rhonda
Hart
Democratic challenger running against incumbent Rep. Brian Babin in Texas's 36th Congressional District in 2026
- sources
- 7
- positions
- 12
- endorsements
- 8
Background
Rhonda Hart is the Democratic candidate for Texas's 36th Congressional District in the November 3, 2026 general election, challenging incumbent Republican Brian Babin. 120 She resides in Texas City, Texas, and is originally from Alaska, describing herself as a Texas mom and advocate for safer gun storage, healthcare access, women's rights, and veterans. 15
Hart has not previously held elected office. She ran unsuccessfully for Dickinson Independent School District Trustee, District 5, in 2019, and for the U.S. House in Texas's 14th District in 2024. 1315 Before politics, she worked as a customer-service leadership team coordinator at Airbnb, a school bus driver and trainer for Santa Fe ISD, and a lead educator at Bay Colony Children's House. 14
Hart attended Texas public schools and holds an associate's degree in early childhood education and teaching from the University of Alaska Southeast, awarded in 2009. 114
At a glance
- Party
- Democratic
- Running for
- U.S. House · District 36, Texas
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Website
- hart4congress.com(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Oct 6newsLone Star Project publishes candidate profile highlighting Hart's policy priorities
The Lone Star Project published a candidate profile describing Hart's stated priorities as lowering the cost of living, universal health care, support for the military and veterans, and ending corruption in Washington. The profile does not date these as newly announced positions.
Texas Congressional Candidates - Lone Star Project · Oct 6, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 5newsHouston Chronicle voter guide lists Hart vs. Babin for TX-36 November 3 general election
Recent voter guides, including the Houston Chronicle's, list the TX-36 contest as Republican incumbent Brian Babin versus Democrat Rhonda Hart. Ballot certification reflects Texas's August 28 certification date. Early voting is scheduled for October 19–30.
Texas Voter Guide 2026: Races, candidates for Nov. 3 election · Oct 5, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 26newsThird-party model estimates Hart faces 24-point deficit against incumbent Babin
The Political Group published an 'underdog' analysis estimating incumbent Brian Babin began 24.1 points ahead of Hart based on prior election results, and that Hart would need 53,363 net votes to win under its model. It described Hart's chances as below 1%. FEC reports through March 31, 2026 showed Hart with $0 cash on hand and $0 raised since January 1, 2025. This is a model-based assessment, not a voter poll.
What It Would Take for Rhonda Hart to Win TX-36 in 2026 | The ... · Sep 26, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Endorsements
- Mothers for Democracy PAC organizationListed on Hart's candidate profile; no date given. ivoterguide.com
- Texas AFL-CIO unionListed on Hart's candidate profile; no endorsement date given. ivoterguide.com
- UAW Region 2B unionListed on Hart's candidate profile; no date given. ivoterguide.com
- Houston Black American Democrats organizationListed in the group's 2026 General Election Endorsements for U.S. Representative District 36. No endorsement date given. houstonblackdems.org
- Texas Democratic Women of Galveston County organizationListed on Hart's candidate profile; no date given. ivoterguide.com
- Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO unionListed on Hart's candidate profile; no date given. The federation's 2026 endorsements page reports 'No endorsements found' in its general-election listing, so the profile alone does not establish a dated 2026 endorsement. ivoterguide.com
- Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund organizationListed on Hart's candidate profile; no date given. The group's published 2026 endorsement announcements did not independently confirm Hart. ivoterguide.com
- Houston Chronicle Editorial Board newspaperThe Chronicle's 2026 voter guide links to an editorial-board endorsement for U.S. House District 36. A separate Chronicle editorial dated September 30, 2026 refers readers to its early endorsements. houstonchronicle.com · Sep 30, 2026
Campaign finance
Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.
- Raised
- $0
- Spent
- $0
- Cash on hand
- $0
As of Mar 31, 2026. Filings are periodic, so recent money may not be included yet. ↳ FEC record H4TX14111(opens in a new tab)
Sources 7
- [1] Rhonda Hart - Texas(opens in a new tab) Oct 9, 2026
- [2] Texas Congressional Candidates - Lone Star Project(opens in a new tab) Oct 6, 2026
- [3] Texas Voter Guide 2026: Races, candidates for Nov. 3 election(opens in a new tab) Oct 5, 2026
- [4] Houston Black American Democrats 2026 Endorsements(opens in a new tab) Oct 3, 2026
- [5] Rhonda Hart for Congress(opens in a new tab) Oct 3, 2026
- [6] Have your mail-in ballot? Please heed our early endorsements. | Editorial(opens in a new tab) Sep 30, 2026
- [7] What It Would Take for Rhonda Hart to Win TX-36 in 2026 | The ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 26, 2026