Eight candidates are running in the Republican primary for Texas' 9th Congressional District on March 3, 2026. The filing deadline is December 8, 2025. Two candidates lead in media attention, fundraising, and endorsements: Briscoe Cain (R) and Alex Mealer (R).

Incumbent Al Green (D) is running in the Democratic primary for Texas' 18th Congressional District in 2026. The last time the district was open was 2004, when Green was first elected. Green received at least 70% of the vote in every general election since then.

Texas conducted redistricting in 2025, and the 9th Congressional District's boundaries changed as a result. According to Gabby Birenbaum of The Texas Tribune, the district was "one of five Democratic districts that [were] significantly redrawn with the goal of electing Republicans." Birenbaum also wrote that "what was once a district that voted for Democrat Kamala Harris by a 44-point margin is now, under the new boundary, a district that went for Republican Donald Trump by 20 percentage points."

Cain is an attorney who was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 2016. He serves in the Texas State Guard. Cain is campaigning on his legislative experience, saying he has "[led] the charge for limited government, secure borders, election integrity, and protecting life and liberty." Cain is also campaigning on his legal experience, describing cases he has worked on as promoting religious liberty and pro-life causes. Cain says he would support gun ownership and back President Donald Trump's (R) immigration policies to improve public safety. On social issues, Cain says he would "protect faith, freedom, and Texas families." U.S. Reps. Pete Sessions (R-Texas) and Randy Weber (R-Texas) endorsed Cain.

Mealer is a U.S. Army veteran who formerly worked in the finance industry and served on the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County board from 2024 to 2025. She was the Republican nominee for Harris County Judge in 2022, losing to incumbent Lina Hidalgo (D) 51% to 49%. Mealer is campaigning on her military experience and status as a political outsider, saying, "I lead when others run away." Mealer says she would focus on passing election security legislation and providing federal funding for Texas law enforcement. Mealer says she would help "deliver President Trump's America First vision." Texas businessman Jim McIngvale, Harris County Commissioner Tom Ramsey (R), and the Texas Municipal Police Association endorsed Mealer.

Also running in the primary are Jaimy Annette Zoboulikos-Blanco (R), Alexandria Butler (R), Peter Emmert (R), Dan Mims (R), Dwayne Stovall (R), and Terry Lee Thain (R).

As of December 2025, The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, Inside Elections with Nathan Gonzales, and Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball each rated the general election Safe/Solid Republican.

To review how redistricting took place in Texas in 2025, click here. For a list of all states that drew new district lines between 2024 and 2026, click here.