U.S. House, Texas 23rd Congressional District · November 3, 2026
Who should I vote for in Texas's 23rd Congressional District?
No candidate in Texas's 23rd Congressional District has enough public record yet for a Ballot Standard score, as of October 6, 2026. Brandon Herrera (7 of 15 criteria), Ben Mendoza (0 of 15 criteria) and Katy Padilla Stout (7 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican
Brandon Herrera
On the ballot as BRANDON HERRERA
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 7 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 38
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Independent
Ben Mendoza
On the ballot as BEN MENDOZA
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 0 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- NR
- Performance
- NR
Democratic
Katy Padilla Stout
On the ballot as KATY PADILLA STOUT
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 7 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 55
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Brandon Herrera
- Mark against2023
In past online videos he made vulgar remarks about women, including a 2023 sexual insult aimed at gun safety advocate Shannon Watts, per CNN and Texas Public Radio in 2026; he calls them jokes.
Sources: CNN, Sept. 9, 2026, Texas Public Radio, Oct. 2, 2026
- On the record2022
In a 2022 YouTube video he called a Nazi-era submachine gun 'the original ghetto blaster' and marched to Nazi music; his campaign called accusations of antisemitism false and he has described such content as jokes.
Sources: Jewish Insider, Apr. 2024, Texas Tribune, Mar. 4, 2026, El Paso Matters and Texas Tribune, Mar. 12, 2026
Ben Mendoza
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Katy Padilla Stout
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Brandon Herrera. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. His 2026 House candidate financial disclosure, covering through April 15, 2026, was filed Sept. 25, 2026. No FEC administrative fine or ethics finding found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10082835, FEC administrative fines search
Ben Mendoza. No public record found.
Katy Padilla Stout. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, and the House Clerk index lists a candidate financial disclosure filed May 13, 2026. No FEC administrative fine or ethics finding found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Brandon Herrera. No public record found.
Ben Mendoza. No public record found.
Katy Padilla Stout. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Brandon Herrera. No public record found.
Ben Mendoza. No public record found.
Katy Padilla Stout. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Brandon Herrera. In past online videos made a sexually explicit insult aimed at gun safety advocate Shannon Watts and her children (2023) and repeated remarks on women's weight, per CNN and Texas Public Radio; he calls them jokes. No formal conduct finding.
Sources: CNN, Sept. 9, 2026, Texas Public Radio, Oct. 2, 2026
Ben Mendoza. No public record found.
Katy Padilla Stout. Has served as an appointed member of the Bexar County Child Welfare Board since 2017 and practices child welfare law. No censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Sources: San Antonio Report candidate profile, El Paso Matters and Texas Tribune, Mar. 12, 2026
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Brandon Herrera. No public record found.
Ben Mendoza. No public record found.
Katy Padilla Stout. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Brandon Herrera. Founded and owns a small firearms manufacturing company near San Antonio and runs a firearms YouTube channel with more than 4 million subscribers. Has not held public office.
Sources: Texas Tribune, Mar. 4, 2026, San Antonio Report candidate profile, Texas Public Radio, Oct. 2, 2026
Ben Mendoza. No public record found.
Katy Padilla Stout. Attorney since 2013 practicing child welfare law, former Northside ISD elementary teacher, and appointed member of the Bexar County Child Welfare Board since 2017. Has not held elected office.
Sources: San Antonio Report candidate profile, Ballotpedia, Katy Padilla Stout
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Brandon Herrera. Publishes issue positions on border security, taxes and regulation, veterans' health care, gun rights and other topics, with some specifics such as sponsoring the REINS Act and national concealed carry reciprocity.
Source: Campaign site, Issues
Ben Mendoza. No public record found.
Katy Padilla Stout. Publishes issue positions on the Big Bend border wall, cost of living, health care, universal Pre-K, paid parental leave and climate, with some specifics such as funding parental leave through unemployment insurance.
Source: Campaign site, Issues
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Brandon Herrera. Answered the San Antonio Report candidate questionnaire and publishes issue pages. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey. Two channels under E8.
Sources: San Antonio Report candidate profile, Campaign site, Issues, Ballotpedia, Brandon Herrera
Ben Mendoza. No public record found.
Katy Padilla Stout. Answered the San Antonio Report candidate questionnaire and publishes issue pages. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey. Two channels under E8.
Sources: San Antonio Report candidate profile, Campaign site, Issues, Ballotpedia, Katy Padilla Stout
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Brandon Herrera. Says he lives in the San Antonio area, where he moved in 2021; his FEC registration lists Helotes in Bexar County, part of which lies in the district. About 33 percent of itemized individual contributions came from Texas.
Sources: San Antonio Report candidate profile, El Paso Matters and Texas Tribune, Mar. 12, 2026, FEC contribution totals by state
Ben Mendoza. No public record found.
Katy Padilla Stout. Born and raised in San Antonio, lives in Leon Springs in Bexar County, part of which lies in the district, and has served on a county board since 2017. About 51 percent of itemized individual contributions came from Texas.
Sources: San Antonio Report candidate profile, Texas Legislative Council, PLANC2333 district report, FEC contribution totals by state
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Brandon Herrera. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine record found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Ben Mendoza. No public record found.
Katy Padilla Stout. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine record found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Brandon Herrera. No public record found.
Ben Mendoza. No public record found.
Katy Padilla Stout. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Brandon Herrera. No public record found.
Ben Mendoza. No public record found.
Katy Padilla Stout. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Brandon Herrera. No public record found.
Ben Mendoza. No public record found.
Katy Padilla Stout. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Brandon Herrera. No public record found.
Ben Mendoza. No public record found.
Katy Padilla Stout. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Brandon Herrera. No public record found.
Ben Mendoza. No public record found.
Katy Padilla Stout. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 6, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in Texas's 23rd Congressional District?
No candidate in Texas's 23rd Congressional District has enough public record yet for a Ballot Standard score, as of October 6, 2026. Brandon Herrera (7 of 15 criteria), Ben Mendoza (0 of 15 criteria) and Katy Padilla Stout (7 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in Texas's 23rd Congressional District in 2026?
BRANDON HERRERA (Republican), BEN MENDOZA (Independent), KATY PADILLA STOUT (Democratic). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Brandon Herrera a good candidate for Congress?
Brandon Herrera has public evidence on 7 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Ben Mendoza a good candidate for Congress?
Ben Mendoza has public evidence on 0 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Katy Padilla Stout a good candidate for Congress?
Katy Padilla Stout has public evidence on 7 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Texas race scored, the trailing candidate's path to victory, and the Texas 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.