U.S. House, Texas 38th Congressional District · November 3, 2026
Who should I vote for in Texas's 38th Congressional District?
No candidate in Texas's 38th Congressional District has enough public record yet for a Ballot Standard score, as of October 6, 2026. Jon Bonck (6 of 15 criteria), Melissa McDonough (7 of 15 criteria) and Alex McMenemy (5 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
Jon Bonck
On the ballot as JON BONCK
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 6 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Democratic
Melissa McDonough
On the ballot as MELISSA MCDONOUGH
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 7 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 60
- Performance
- NR
Green
Alex McMenemy
On the ballot as ALEX MCMENEMY
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 5 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 56
- Performance
- NR
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Jon Bonck. A House candidate financial disclosure was filed May 8, 2026, and committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine or ethics finding found.
Sources: House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10077153, FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Melissa McDonough. A House candidate financial disclosure was filed May 10, 2026, and committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine or ethics finding found.
Sources: House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10077232, FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Alex McMenemy. Committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 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.
Jon Bonck. No public record found.
Melissa McDonough. No public record found.
Alex McMenemy. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Jon Bonck. No public record found.
Melissa McDonough. Her campaign lists an Oct. 4, 2026 candidate forum hosted by The Metropolitan Organization and recurring open sessions to meet voters. No 2026 general election debate was found.
Source: Campaign site, Events
Alex McMenemy. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Jon Bonck. No public record found.
Melissa McDonough. No public record found.
Alex McMenemy. No public record found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Jon Bonck. No public record found.
Melissa McDonough. No public record found.
Alex McMenemy. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Jon Bonck. Worked in quality control and marketing in the biochemical and petroleum industries, and since 2019 as a sales manager at Bonck & Baker Mortgage Group. Has not held public office.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Jon Bonck, Houston Public Media, March 4, 2026
Melissa McDonough. Realtor for almost 30 years who has owned and managed a brokerage of over 45 agents for 20 years; has also served as a Harris County election judge. Has not held public office.
Sources: Campaign site, About Melissa, Ballotpedia, Melissa McDonough
Alex McMenemy. No public record found.
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Jon Bonck. Campaign site states general aims, chiefly cutting regulation that slows home buying; its issues page did not load.
Source: Campaign site, home page
Melissa McDonough. Campaign platform page explains positions on the economy, trade, education, elections and other issues in general terms.
Source: Campaign site, Platform
Alex McMenemy. Campaign platform lists positions on campaign finance, foreign policy, wages, health care and the environment in general terms.
Source: Campaign site, Platform
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Jon Bonck. Explains his aims in plain language on his campaign site. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Melissa McDonough. Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026, publishes a platform page and a campaign newsletter, and lists a candidate forum.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Melissa McDonough, Campaign site, Platform, Campaign site, Events
Alex McMenemy. Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025 and publishes a platform page.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Alex McMenemy, Campaign site, Platform
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Jon Bonck. Identified by the Texas Tribune as Jon Bonck of Houston; the district covers west and northwest Harris County. FEC by-state totals for 2025 to 2026 show about 91 percent of itemized individual contributions from Texas.
Sources: Texas Tribune, May 26, 2026, Houston Public Media, May 26, 2026, FEC contribution totals by state
Melissa McDonough. Says she has lived in Harris County for nearly three decades and served on the Tomball ISD school bond committee. FEC by-state totals for 2025 to 2026 show about 95 percent of itemized individual contributions from Texas.
Sources: Campaign site, home page, Campaign site, About Melissa, FEC contribution totals by state
Alex McMenemy. Says he was born in Tomball, which is in the district, and has lived in the area most of his life. FEC by-state totals show all itemized individual contributions, $5,260, from Texas.
Sources: Campaign site, home page, FEC contribution totals by state
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Jon Bonck. Committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Melissa McDonough. Committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Alex McMenemy. Committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Jon Bonck. No public record found.
Melissa McDonough. No public record found.
Alex McMenemy. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Jon Bonck. No public record found.
Melissa McDonough. No public record found.
Alex McMenemy. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Jon Bonck. No public record found.
Melissa McDonough. No public record found.
Alex McMenemy. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Jon Bonck. No public record found.
Melissa McDonough. No public record found.
Alex McMenemy. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Jon Bonck. No public record found.
Melissa McDonough. No public record found.
Alex McMenemy. 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 38th Congressional District?
No candidate in Texas's 38th Congressional District has enough public record yet for a Ballot Standard score, as of October 6, 2026. Jon Bonck (6 of 15 criteria), Melissa McDonough (7 of 15 criteria) and Alex McMenemy (5 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 38th Congressional District in 2026?
JON BONCK (Republican), MELISSA MCDONOUGH (Democratic), ALEX MCMENEMY (Green). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Jon Bonck a good candidate for Congress?
Jon Bonck has public evidence on 6 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 Melissa McDonough a good candidate for Congress?
Melissa McDonough 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 Alex McMenemy a good candidate for Congress?
Alex McMenemy has public evidence on 5 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.