Katy Padilla Stout

Katy Padilla Stout is a San Antonio attorney and former teacher who won the Democratic nomination outright in March. She faces Republican Brandon Herrera for the open seat left by Rep. Tony Gonzales' resignation, in a district Trump won by about 15 points in 2024, and the DCCC has added it to its Districts in Play list.

On the ballot against Brandon Herrera (R)

Why it matters: Republicans hold a narrow House majority, and Democrats see this Republican-held, majority-Hispanic South Texas seat as one of three they could flip to help win control.

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The race at a glance

Race ratingLean RCook Political Report, Oct 27 source

Money raised (through Oct 14) Stout$1,117,715 Herrera$3,115,205 $144,424 cash on hand. source

In Katy's own words

I am running on access to education, universal pre-K, student loan reform,

Katy Padilla Stout, Padilla Stout on her campaign priorities, in a Texas Public Radio interview., Mar 12 source

He is trying to normalize hate and desensitize people to that, therefore making discrimination easier

Katy Padilla Stout, Padilla Stout on Herrera's online videos, in a Texas Public Radio interview., Mar 12 source

Where Katy stands

Health care: She supports expanding Medicare to all Americans and, failing that, strengthening the ACA and greatly expanding federal community health centers. source
Universal pre-K and education: She favors a major federal investment in universal pre-K, paired with a higher minimum wage and required paid parental leave. source
Big Bend border wall: She opposes the administration's planned wall along the Rio Grande and criticizes DHS for a lack of transparency. source
Gun violence: She supports universal background checks, a bump stock ban and effective red-flag laws, along with more funding for mental health and crisis intervention. source
Cost of living: She wants a fair tax code that strengthens the middle class and opposes tax cuts for billionaires while SNAP funding for children is under debate. source

The record

Former kindergarten and English-as-a-Second-Language teacher in Northside ISD, with a law degree from South Texas College of Law.
Private-practice attorney who focuses on children in foster care and has served on the Bexar County Child Welfare Board.
First-time candidate who won the March 2026 Democratic primary in a four-way race with 52% of the vote.

ConfidentialThe GOP File

The file on Brandon Herrera

Herrera is a gun rights activist and YouTuber who has made Holocaust jokes on his channel and discussed owning a copy of 'Mein Kampf'. His campaign calls the antisemitism allegations 'bizarre, desperate and false.' source
Herrera forced Rep. Tony Gonzales into a primary runoff and became the Republican nominee after Gonzales left the race before the runoff. The Freedom Caucus Fund endorsed him. source
Herrera's FEC page shows $3.1 million in total receipts for the 2026 cycle through Oct. 14, including $520,000 in candidate loans and $670,000 in debts owed by the committee. source

Endorsed by

Pete Buttigieg Gabby Giffords / Giffords PAC EMILY's List San Antonio Express-News

Profile sources: 1, 2, 3, 4

Race data checked Tuesday, October 27, 2026. Quotes on this page were matched word for word against their sources.