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Democrat

Katy Padilla Stout

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Democrat

Katy Padilla Stout

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TX-23 Democratic nominee?

$9.3K

MAR 10, 2026

Primary Election

Party selects its nominee.

Overview

Current roleAttorney

PartyDemocratic

Political ideologyProgressive Democrat

GenderFemale

LocationTexas

BackgroundAttorney

EducationUniversity of Texas at Austin (B.S.)

Notable personal detailsKaty Padilla Stout is an American attorney and former public school teacher running as the Democratic nominee for Texas’ 23rd Congressional District in the 2026 election cycle. She is based in the San Antonio area and has worked in child welfare-related roles, including serving on the Bexar County Child Welfare Board. She earned a B.S. from the University of Texas at Austin and a J.D. from South Texas College of Law.

SourcesShow

fec.gov katyforcongress.com sanantonioreport.org en.wikipedia.org wikidata.org tpr.org ballotready.org gmg-ksat-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com thehousemajoritypac.com texastribune.org wtop.com coinbase.com apnews.com bexardemocrat.org co.hudspeth.tx.us reddit.com bigbendsentinel.com brewstercounty.gov yahoo.com expressnews.com click2houston.com citizenportal.ai katyisd.org cityofkaty.com miller.house.gov communityimpact.com kansasreflector.com reformaustin.org katforillinois.com elpasotaxpayerrevolt.com texasscorecard.com kcur.org moneywithkatie.com cdn2.creativecirclemedia.com congress.gov dallasnews.com washingtonpost.com axios.com linkedin.com sfchronicle.com cbsnews.com foxnews.com css.washingtonpost.com cdn.ballotpedia.org docquery.fec.gov finance.senate.gov kennedy.senate.gov votesmart.org padilla.senate.gov larson.house.gov voterguide.ballotpedia.org

Positions

LiberalConservative

Economy & Taxes

The candidate supports a tax code that she says should empower the middle class and opposes tax cuts for billionaires. She calls for investments in family-supporting programs (universal pre-K, higher minimum wage, paid parental leave) and for congressional oversight of tariffs that raise costs.

Healthcare

Supports expanding access to affordable health care and protecting reproductive rights, and centers healthcare access and affordability as a top campaign priority for TX-23. Advocates strengthening programs that improve access to care in underserved parts of the district and expanding services such as mental health and veterans’ care. No direct evidence was found of support for single-payer/Medicare for All or for fully privatizing the system.

Immigration & Border

Supports a secure border while calling for reasonable and humane immigration laws, bipartisan congressional action, and fair pathways to citizenship; opposes large-scale border construction (e.g., Big Bend wall) and urges reform of enforcement practices and vetting.

Abortion & Reproductive Rights

The candidate supports protecting women's reproductive rights and says medical decisions about health procedures should be made between a woman and her doctor without government interference. She highlights that Texas' restrictions have prevented women from accessing necessary medical care, including in life‑threatening situations, and calls for those rights to be protected.

Climate & Energy

Supports addressing climate change using science-based policy, endorses rejoining the Paris Climate Accord, and emphasizes protecting public lands such as Big Bend National Park while calling for U.S. participation in global climate efforts.

Public Safety & Guns

Supports expanded background checks, a ban on bump stocks, and functioning red-flag laws while affirming Second Amendment rights and calling for reasonable limits and mental-health/crisis support to reduce gun violence.

News

AINews Summary

Last updatedMay 22, 2026

Katy Padilla Stout is the Democratic candidate in Texas’s 23rd Congressional District, where the race has become more competitive after Republican Tony Gonzales withdrew and later resigned. She is now facing Republican nominee Brandon Herrera in a contest that Democrats see as a possible pickup. Recent coverage says the district has become a key House race to watch, with Republicans losing ground in several competitive seats ahead of the 2026 midterms.

fec.gov+50

Articles

TNThe New York Times3 months ago