U.S. House, Texas 9th Congressional District · November 3, 2026
Who should I vote for in Texas's 9th Congressional District?
Alex Mealer has the strongest record in Texas's 9th Congressional District. Alex Mealer scores 53 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 5, 2026. Alex Mealer's highest marks are relevant experience. Leticia Gutierrez (6 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Democratic
Leticia Gutierrez
On the ballot as LETICIA GUTIERREZ
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 6 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 69
- Performance
- NR
Republican
Strongest record
Alex Mealer
On the ballot as ALEX MEALER
53 / 100
Public evidence on 8 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.
Leticia Gutierrez
- Credit2024-01
Profiled by the Houston Defender in January 2024 as Air Alliance Houston's government relations and community outreach director working on pollution near Port of Houston industries.
Sources: Houston Defender, Jan. 24, 2024, House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10073183
Alex Mealer
- On the record2026-05
During the 2026 primary runoff, said she had sold her home outside the redrawn district and moved into it.
Source: The Center Square, May 20, 2026
- On the record2023-01-06 to 2023-09-21
Filed a Texas Election Code contest of the certified 2022 Harris County judge result on Jan. 6, 2023, asking for a new election; nonsuited it Sept. 21, 2023.
Sources: Harris County District Court, Mealer v. Hidalgo, original petition for an election contest, filed Jan. 6, 2023, Houston Public Media, Sept. 22, 2023, FOX 26 Houston, Sept. 21, 2023, Houston Public Media, Aug. 25, 2025
- Credit2024-03-21
Sworn in to the METRO Board of Directors on March 21, 2024, appointed to represent 14 smaller cities, and served as its public safety chair.
Sources: METRO news release, March 21, 2024, House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10077465
- Credit2007
Graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 2007 and served as an Army explosive ordnance disposal officer.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Alex Mealer, Texas Tribune, Sept. 30, 2026
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Leticia Gutierrez. Candidate financial disclosure filed with the House Clerk on Jan. 16, 2026, and FEC reports on file through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine or Texas Ethics Commission order found.
Sources: House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10073183, FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Alex Mealer. Candidate financial disclosures filed with the House Clerk on Dec. 22, 2025 and May 15, 2026, and FEC reports on file through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine or Texas Ethics Commission order found.
Sources: House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10077465, FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Leticia Gutierrez. No public record found.
Alex Mealer. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Leticia Gutierrez. No public record found.
Alex Mealer. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Leticia Gutierrez. Government relations and community outreach director at the nonprofit Air Alliance Houston. No formal conduct finding found.
Sources: Houston Defender, Jan. 24, 2024, Community Impact, Sept. 18, 2026, candidate Q&A
Alex Mealer. Army explosive ordnance disposal officer after West Point, later a METRO board member and public safety chair. No formal conduct finding found.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Alex Mealer, METRO news release, March 21, 2024, House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10077465
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Leticia Gutierrez. No public record found.
Alex Mealer. Army officer; took the METRO board oath in 2024. In January 2023 filed an election contest asking a court to void the certified 2022 Harris County judge result and order a new election; nonsuited it September 2023.
Sources: Harris County District Court, Mealer v. Hidalgo, original petition for an election contest, filed Jan. 6, 2023, Houston Public Media, Sept. 22, 2023, FOX 26 Houston, Sept. 21, 2023, METRO news release, March 21, 2024
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Leticia Gutierrez. Directs government relations and community outreach for the nonprofit Air Alliance Houston, after earlier work in securities and banking per a 2024 profile. Has not held elected office.
Sources: Houston Defender, Jan. 24, 2024, Community Impact, Sept. 18, 2026, candidate Q&A
Alex Mealer. West Point graduate and Army explosive ordnance disposal officer, former energy finance executive, and a METRO board member and public safety chair from March 2024, appointed for 14 smaller cities.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Alex Mealer, Texas Tribune, Sept. 30, 2026, METRO news release, March 21, 2024, House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10077465
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Leticia Gutierrez. Publishes three priorities (affordability, government accountability, infrastructure) in general terms, with more specific answers on flood control, water projects and disaster aid in a newspaper questionnaire.
Sources: Campaign site, Priorities, Community Impact, Sept. 18, 2026, candidate Q&A
Alex Mealer. Publishes priorities in general terms (taxes and regulation, border security, Houston Ship Channel and port infrastructure) and pledges to back a ban on member stock trading and term limits.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Alex Mealer, candidate survey, Campaign site, home page
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Leticia Gutierrez. Answered Ballotpedia's survey, the League of Women Voters of Houston guide and two Community Impact questionnaires, publishes an issues page and gave a one-on-one interview to FOX 26 Houston.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Leticia Gutierrez, League of Women Voters of Houston, Voters Guide (March 2026 primary), Community Impact, Sept. 18, 2026, candidate Q&A, FOX 26 Houston, Aug. 26, 2026
Alex Mealer. Answered Ballotpedia's 2026 survey and publishes an issues page. Did not respond to Community Impact's general election questionnaire before its Sept. 18, 2026 publication.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Alex Mealer, Campaign site, home page, Community Impact, Sept. 18, 2026, candidate Q&A
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Leticia Gutierrez. Attended Milby High School in Houston's East End, which the Texas Tribune lists in the redrawn district, and says she has lived there 45 years. FEC by-state totals show about 94 percent of itemized individual contributions from Texas.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Leticia Gutierrez, Houston Style Magazine, July 7, 2026, Texas Tribune, Sept. 30, 2026, FEC contribution totals by state
Alex Mealer. Says she sold her home outside the district and moved into it during the 2026 primary. FEC by-state totals show about 90 percent of itemized individual contributions from Texas.
Sources: The Center Square, May 20, 2026, FEC contribution totals by state
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Leticia Gutierrez. No public record found.
Alex Mealer. FEC reports on file through June 30, 2026, and no FEC administrative fine found. Her 2026 disclosure lists a wholly owned welding supply business.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search, House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10077465
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Leticia Gutierrez. No public record found.
Alex Mealer. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Leticia Gutierrez. No public record found.
Alex Mealer. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Leticia Gutierrez. No public record found.
Alex Mealer. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Leticia Gutierrez. No public record found.
Alex Mealer. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Leticia Gutierrez. No public record found.
Alex Mealer. 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 5, 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 9th Congressional District?
Alex Mealer has the strongest record in Texas's 9th Congressional District. Alex Mealer scores 53 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 5, 2026. Alex Mealer's highest marks are relevant experience. Leticia Gutierrez (6 of 15 criteria) has 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 9th Congressional District in 2026?
LETICIA GUTIERREZ (Democratic), ALEX MEALER (Republican). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Leticia Gutierrez a good candidate for Congress?
Leticia Gutierrez 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 Alex Mealer a good candidate for Congress?
Alex Mealer scores 53 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 55 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
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.