University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs
30%25%20%15%10%5%0%
5%
24%
5%
Democrat
Terry Virts
Democratic candidate for U.S. House in Texas
TX-09 Democratic nominee?
$29.2K
MAR 10, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Live Odds
Current prediction-market probability for the candidate, updated as market prices change.
Terry Virts is trading at 1% to win the TX-09 Democratic nominee? on prediction markets.
Candidate Overview
Key details about the candidate’s background, party, office sought and current campaign.
Current roleNASA astronaut
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyModerate Democrat
Age58 years old (Dec 1, 1967)
GenderMale
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LocationTexas
BackgroundNASA astronaut
EducationUnited States Air Force Academy — B.S. in Mathematics (French minor) (1989)
Notable personal detailsTerry W. Virts Jr. is a former NASA astronaut and retired U.S. Air Force colonel and test pilot. He served as pilot on Space Shuttle mission STS-130 (2010) and as commander of International Space Station Expedition 43 (2015). In 2026, he filed with the FEC as a Democratic candidate for the U.S. House in Texas’s 9th congressional district.
SourcesShowHide
fec.govnasa.goven.wikipedia.orgwikidata.orgterryvirts.comspacefacts.dees.wikipedia.orgsos.texas.govdocquery.fec.govastronaut.rubiographs.orgnatengleague.netnewtools.cira.state.tx.uscapitolhillaccess.comalumni.hbs.edufamousbirthdays.comloc.govstreetforus.comtexasdemocrats.orguh.eduspace.commusic.amazon.intexastribune.orgksat.comnewsweek.comhoustonchronicle.comspectrumlocalnews.comcbsnews.comthestandupway.orgcongress.govepi.orgirssettlementsecrets.comterrysavage.comconvergencemag.comvermontbiz.compodscripts.co8kun.toparchyde.comfacebook.comprogresstexas.orginstagram.comhoustonpublicmedia.orgpunchbowl.newspolitico.comballotpedia.orgtexasstandard.orgx.comallamericanspeakers.comballotready.orgtransition.fec.govde.wikipedia.orgpt.wikipedia.orgfr.wikipedia.org
Political Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
The candidate emphasizes making healthcare, groceries, and housing more affordable, supporting small businesses through reduced overregulation, opposing tariffs that hurt Texas workers, and rejects tax cuts for billionaires. He frames his economic approach around helping working Texans and opposing policies he describes as benefiting the wealthy at the expense of ordinary people.
Healthcare
Supports making healthcare more affordable and increasing access through practical reforms such as expanding the supply of doctors and medical residencies, offering free preventive care (mammograms, vaccines, screenings), and targeting cost inefficiencies. Positions emphasize pragmatic, government-enabled measures to broaden access rather than proposals for single-payer or full privatization.
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Immigration & Border
Supports legal immigration while opposing illegal immigration; advocates a “strong border” combined with treating immigrants with dignity and respect and focusing enforcement on criminal activity. Describes his approach as “common-sense immigration.”
Climate & Energy
Terry Virts has criticized federal cuts to weather and climate science and has said extreme flooding influenced his decision to run, but his campaign materials and public statements do not lay out specific climate or energy policy proposals such as emissions targets, clean-energy investment, or fossil-fuel transition plans.
Latest News
AINews Summary
Last updatedJul 15, 2026
Terry Virts is in the news as a candidate in the Texas 2026 U.S. Senate race, which is now described as tied in a recent poll. Democrats have also reported strong fundraising in the race, suggesting they are competitive even though the overall Senate map still looks difficult for them. More broadly, Texas primary turnout has been strong on the Democratic side, adding to the sense that the race could be close.
fec.gov+52
Articles
TNThe New York Times4 months ago
Republicans’ Home-Field Edge for Senate Seems Just Enough for Now
Neutral
MJMother Jones5 months ago
They’re All Ken Paxton Now
Neutral
LALubbock Avalanche-Journal7 months ago
Official says certified Texas 2026 primary election results coming soon
Neutral
NNewsweek7 months ago
Republicans Get Early Midterm Warning as Democratic Turnout Surges
Positive
Latest Polls
Recent polling results and the candidate's current average in the race.
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Campaign Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 2026Campaign finance totals from the latest available reporting period.
Total raisedCash on hand
$665.4K
$499.1K
$332.7K
$166.4K
$0
2026
LatestYear
Total raised
Cash on hand
Total spent
Burn rate
Cycle 2026
$665.4K
$2.9K
$454.2K
$25.2K
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Endorsements