University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs
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Who will win the Special Election for TX-18?
$127.3K
NOV 4, 2026
Candidate standings
Live market pricing for the leading candidates in this election.
Overview
Current roleJournalist
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
Age61 years old (Dec 19, 1964)
GenderFemale
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LocationTexas
BackgroundJournalist
EducationCentral University of Venezuela
Notable personal detailsCarmen María Montiel Ávila is a Venezuelan-American journalist and former beauty pageant titleholder (Miss Venezuela 1984) who has run for U.S. Congress in Texas. She has been active in Republican politics and was a candidate in Texas’s 18th congressional district special election cycle. She is also the author of the 2020 memoir "Stolen Identity: A Story of Love, Violence and Liberation."
SourcesShowHide
fec.goven.wikipedia.orguh.edutxroundtable.comes.wikipedia.orginfobae.comtxelectionresults.comhoustonchronicle.comkeranews.orgdefendernetwork.comunivision.comtexastribune.orgtexasconservative.reviewharriscountygop.commachinefreevoting.comcarmen4congress.comonyourballot.vote411.orgmenafn.comamericanbusinesstimes.comivoterguide.comlinkhouston.orgfortbendchristianmagazine.comhoustonvotersguide.orgclick2houston.comtexasscorecard.comcomptroller.texas.govreformaustin.orgtexasweekly.texastribune.orgmedicareforanybody.commedicaredforall.comkatychristianmagazine.comlatinocaucus.legislature.ca.govamericanprogress.orgjustfacts.votesmart.orgvotesmart.orgcdn.ballotpedia.orgballotready.orgit.wikipedia.orgdocquery.fec.govwikidata.orgclerk.house.gov
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
Supports cutting taxes and regulations, balancing budgets, and policies to boost economic growth through small-business support and expanded domestic energy production. Favors limited government and reducing waste to stabilize the economy. Emphasizes opposition to expansive government spending and socialism.
Healthcare
Supports expanding access through patient-centered choices and improving support for seniors, veterans, and vulnerable residents while emphasizing limited government and market-oriented solutions. Positions emphasize reducing costs and increasing competition rather than proposing large federal expansions such as Medicare for All.
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Immigration & Border
Supports securing the U.S. border and strengthening border enforcement to stop illegal immigration, drug trafficking, crime, and human trafficking; opposes current perceived "chaos" of illegal immigration and calls for restoring law and order at the border. Campaign materials list legislation proposals that would impose strict limits on immigration, including measures that would restructure legal immigration and restrict asylum.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports restrictions on abortion access, indicating abortion should be allowed in cases of rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother, and supports preventing public funding for abortion providers such as Planned Parenthood.
Climate & Energy
The candidate has expressed support for developing a local climate action plan and environmental justice measures while also advocating for increased oil and gas drilling and calling for immediate expansion of domestic drilling. Her statements show both support for climate planning and explicit pro-fossil-fuel positions.
Public Safety & Guns
The candidate says she will protect constitutional rights including the Second Amendment and lists “Safe Communities” and support for law enforcement among her priorities. Her campaign frames gun rights as part of defending constitutional freedoms rather than advancing new gun restrictions.
Polls
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 2026Total raisedCash on hand
$147.4K
$110.5K
$73.7K
$36.8K
$0
2022
2024
2026
2026
LatestYear
Total raised
Cash on hand
Total spent
Burn rate
Cycle 2022
$126.4K
$3.6K
$122.8K
$5.1K
Cycle 2024
$41.76
$442.49
$3.2K
$132.06
Cycle 2026
$147.4K
$5.4K
$142.4K
$9.5K
Cycle 2026
$147.4K
$5.4K
$142.4K
$9.5K
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
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