Who Ben is
Ben Mendoza is a perennial El Paso candidate who has run for U.S. House, El Paso mayor, and other offices multiple times since 2012 — including two Democratic primaries against Beto O'Rourke.
About Ben
He qualified as an Independent for the 23rd Congressional District in 2026; no detailed platform or campaign website could be found for this run.
Where they stand
- Reproductive RightsUnknown
- Immigration & BorderUnknown
- Housing & AffordabilityUnknown
- Public EducationUnknown
- Election IntegrityUnknown
- HealthcareUnknown
- Social Security & MedicareUnknown
- Gun PolicyUnknown
- Climate & EnergyUnknown
Also on the ballot for U.S. House • District 23
Every candidate on this ballot line appears here, in alphabetical order. Tap a name to read more.
Brandon HerreraBefore he was a congressional candidate, Brandon Herrera was a YouTuber known as "The AK Guy," famous for firing antique machine guns and building his own custom rifles.
About Brandon
Herrera grew up in a military family (though he never served himself), dropped out of Campbell University's pre-law program, and built a firearms company and YouTube channel into a business with over a million subscribers. He first ran for Texas's 23rd District in 2024 and narrowly lost the Republican runoff to incumbent Tony Gonzales; when Gonzales dropped out of the 2026 race, Herrera became the Republican nominee.
Katy Padilla StoutKaty Padilla Stout used to teach elementary school before becoming an attorney who represents kids in the foster care system.
About Katy
A San Antonio native and mother of four, Padilla Stout worked in national Democratic fundraising for Henry Muñoz, a former DNC finance chair, before turning to law and child advocacy. She entered the TX-23 race after Republican incumbent Tony Gonzales dropped out, and is running on affordability, healthcare access, and education, including universal pre-K.