Senator Roland Gutierrez Wins Reelection, Katy Padilla-Stout Captures Congressional District 23

By Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2026 Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.

Democrats Roland Gutierrez and Katy Padilla Stout have been projected to win their respective races for Texas Senate District 19 and U.S. House District 23 in the November 3, 2026 General Election, according to Associated Press results published by The Texas Tribune.

Gutierrez secured reelection to the Texas Senate, defeating Republican challenger Marcus Cardenas. Padilla Stout won the congressional contest against Republican Brandon Herrera and independent candidate Ben Mendoza.

With an estimated 86.4 percent of the vote counted in Senate District 19, incumbent Gutierrez received 169,892 votes, representing 63.8 percent. Cardenas received 96,565 votes, or 36.2 percent.

The reported returns placed Gutierrez ahead by 73,327 votes, a margin of 27.6 percentage points.

In Congressional District 23, Padilla Stout received 132,887 votes, representing 51.5 percent, with an estimated 86.15 percent of the vote counted.

Herrera received 115,362 votes, or 44.7 percent, while Mendoza received 9,930 votes, representing 3.8 percent.

Padilla Stout held a lead of 17,525 votes over Herrera, a margin of 6.8 percentage points. The congressional district had been redrawn in 2025, according to The Texas Tribune’s election results page.

The Associated Press projected both winners while ballot counting continued. The reported totals remained unofficial and were subject to updates as additional returns were processed.