Ballotpedia

Carmen Maria Montiel was born in Venezuela. She has lived in Houston, Texas, since 1991. Montiel earned a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism from East Tennessee State University. She is a mother of three, a Christian, and an active volunteer.

My Story

Carmen previously worked as a news anchorwoman and reporter.

Carmen previously ran for U.S. House, Texas District 18 in 2018 and 2022 but did not win.

Plans to address inflation and reduce regulatory burdens.

Plans to "address inflation and reduce regulatory burdens."

- Plans to "address inflation and reduce regulatory burdens."
- Supports affordable housing initiatives.

Economy

Supports community-based crime prevention and strong collaboration with law enforcement to improve trust and outcomes.

Supports prosecuting domestic violence cases.

- Supports community-based crime prevention and strong collaboration with law enforcement to improve trust and outcomes.
- Supports prosecuting domestic violence cases.
- Wants to end human trafficking.

Public Safety

Supports school choice and increasing transparency in the classroom.

Supports school choice programs, which allow qualifying families to use public money to fund alternative schooling options, including private school.

- Supports school choice programs, which allow qualifying families to use public money to fund alternative schooling options, including private school.
- Opposes education on race and racism.
- Supports mentoring programs in schools.

Education

Supports expanding patient-centered healthcare choices while improving support for seniors, veterans, and vulnerable residents.

Supports "expanding patient-centered healthcare choices while improving support for seniors, veterans, and vulnerable residents."

- Supports "expanding patient-centered healthcare choices while improving support for seniors, veterans, and vulnerable residents."

Healthcare

Energy & the Environment

As of October 7, 2025, Carmen Maria Montiel’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Voting & Elections

Supports "law-and-order policies" at the border to deter trafficking and fentanyl flows, while prioritizing legal pathways.

Supports "law-and-order policies" at the border to deter trafficking and fentanyl smuggling, while prioritizing legal pathways to immigration.

- Supports "law-and-order policies" at the border to deter trafficking and fentanyl smuggling, while prioritizing legal pathways to immigration.

Foreign Policy and Immigration

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Carmen Maria Montiel

Carmen Maria Montiel was born in Venezuela and lives in Houston, Texas. Montiel earned a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism from East Tennessee State University. She is a proud mother of three, a dedicated churchgoer, and an active volunteer in organizations that tackle real problems with real solutions.

Carmen previously ran for U.S. House Texas District 18 in 2022 but did not win.

As of October 7, 2025, Carmen Maria Montiel did not have a website or any information online.

Buket Urgen

Amanda Edwards

Amanda Edwards is from Houston, Texas. She has a bachelor's degree in political science from Emory University and a law degree from Harvard Law School. She attends St. Monica Catholic Church in Acres Homes.

Meet Amanda Edwards: The People’s Candidate for Texas’ 18th Congressional District

Amanda is a municipal finance attorney at Vinson & Elkins LLP and Bracewell LLP. Previously, where she clerked for Federal District Court Judge Ivan Lemelle and founded Project NOW: The New Orleans Writing Project.

Amanda Edwards to run to succeed the late-US Rep Sylvester Turner

Amanda previously served on the Houston City Council from 2016 to 2020. She ran for U.S. Senate in 2020, Houston mayor in 2023, and Texas's Congressional District 18 in 2024 but did not win. 

Supports strengthening the rights of workers to unionize and collectively bargain.

Supports strengthening workers' rights to unionize and collectively bargain.

Supports increasing the minimum wage to a "true living wage."

Supports expanding access to capital, training, and other resources for small business owners.

Supports creating job opportunities by expanding apprenticeship programs and modernizing job training.

Supports expanding federal housing planning and incentivizing new housing construction to "right-size" the housing supply.

Supports expanding federal housing planning and incentivizing new housing construction to increase the housing supply.

Supports developing solutions to protect residents from gentrification and displacement, and advocates for increased resources for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) programs.

Opposes cuts to federal programs like SNAP and healthcare.

- Supports strengthening workers' rights to unionize and collectively bargain.
- Supports increasing the minimum wage to a "true living wage."
- Supports expanding access to capital, training, and other resources for small business owners.
- Supports creating job opportunities by expanding apprenticeship programs and modernizing job training.
- Supports expanding federal housing planning and incentivizing new housing construction to increase the housing supply.
- Supports developing solutions to protect residents from gentrification and displacement, and advocates for increased resources for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) programs.
- Opposes cuts to federal programs like SNAP and healthcare.

Supports gun control measures, including mandatory background checks and a federal red flag law.

Supports community-led training for law enforcement, expanding community violence intervention programs, and advocates for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.

Supports community-led training for law enforcement, expanding community violence intervention programs, and advocates for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which would ban chokeholds, limit military equipment, and mandate body cameras.

Supports protecting people seeking abortion care from being "stalked or hunted."

Supports ensuring disaster systems have necessary funding and resources to protect and restore communities.

- Supports gun control measures, including mandatory background checks and a federal red flag law.
- Supports community-led training for law enforcement, expanding community violence intervention programs, and advocates for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which would ban chokeholds, limit military equipment, and mandate body cameras.
- Supports protecting people seeking abortion care from being "stalked or hunted."
- Supports ensuring disaster systems have necessary funding and resources to protect and restore communities.

Supports reducing the costs of higher education, and advocating for community colleges and funding innovative local school initiatives.

- Supports reducing the costs of higher education, and advocating for community colleges and funding innovative local school initiatives.

Supports preserving Medicare and Social Security.

Supports universal healthcare access, including closing gaps in the Affordable Care Act and lowering prescription drug and insurance premiums.

Supports expanding HIPAA to protect private medical decisions, particularly women's reproductive health.

Supports abortion access and wants to "codify the protections of Roe v. Wade at the federal level."

Supports addressing Black maternal mortality and other disproportionate health outcomes by securing research funding and expanding access to care.

- Supports preserving Medicare and Social Security.
- Supports universal healthcare access, including closing gaps in the Affordable Care Act and lowering prescription drug and insurance premiums.
- Supports expanding HIPAA to protect private medical decisions, particularly women's reproductive health.
- Supports abortion access and wants to "codify the protections of Roe v. Wade at the federal level."
- Supports addressing Black maternal mortality and other disproportionate health outcomes by securing research funding and expanding access to care.

Supports policies that address climate change.

Supports collaboration across industries and communities to ensure Houston leads in energy transition.

Supports investing in Houston's energy industry transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

Supports developing "comprehensive equitable solutions for communities impacted by environmental injustice and resulting health issues, like the Fifth Ward cancer cluster."

- Supports policies that address climate change.
- Supports investing in Houston's energy industry transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
- Supports developing "comprehensive equitable solutions for communities impacted by environmental injustice and resulting health issues, like the Fifth Ward cancer cluster."

Supports expanding and protecting voting rights and addressing gerrymandering that suppresses the votes of Black and Latino communities.

- Supports expanding and protecting voting rights and addressing gerrymandering that suppresses the votes of Black and Latino communities.

Believes the "foundations of our democracy are in danger" due to Trump's policies on immigration, military action against protesters, and attacks on birthright citizenship and voting rights.

- Believes the "foundations of our democracy are in danger" due to Trump's policies on immigration, military action against protesters, and attacks on birthright citizenship and voting rights.

- Supports gun control measures, including mandatory background checks and a federal red flag law.
- Supports community-led training for law enforcement, expanding community violence intervention programs, and advocates for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.
- Supports protecting people seeking abortion care from being "stalked or hunted."
- Supports ensuring disaster systems have necessary funding and resources to protect and restore communities.

- Supports policies that address climate change.
- Supports investing in Houston's "energy transition" industry.
- Supports developing "comprehensive equitable solutions for communities impacted by environmental injustice and resulting health issues, like the Fifth Ward cancer cluster."

Amanda Edwards is from Houston, Texas. She has a bachelor's degree in political science from Emory University and a law degree from Harvard Law School. She lives in Houston's core and attends St. Monica Catholic Church in Acres Homes.

Amanda is a municipal finance attorney at Vinson & Elkins LLP and Bracewell LLP. She previously served on the Houston City Council from 2016 to 2020, where she focused on small businesses and workersu2019 rights, especially for women and minorities. After law school, she relocated to New Orleans, where she clerked for Federal District Court Judge Ivan Lemelle and founded Project NOW: The New Orleans Writing Project.

Amanda previously served on the Houston City Council from 2016 to 2020. She ran in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in 2020 but came in fifth place, losing to M.J. Hegar. Edwards ran for Houston mayor in 2023 but dropped out when Sheila Jackson Lee announced her candidacy. She then ran for the congressional seat in Texas's 18th District but lost to Jackson Lee in the Democratic primary.

- Supports strengthening workers' rights to unionize and collectively bargain.
- Supports increasing the minimum wage to a "true living wage."
- Supports expanding access to capital, training, and other resources for small business owners.
- Supports creating job opportunities by expanding apprenticeship programs and modernizing job training.
- Supports expanding federal housing planning and incentivizing new housing construction to increase the housing supply.
- Supports developing solutions to protect residents from gentrification and displacement, and advocates for increased resources for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) programs.

- Supports gun control measures, including mandatory background checks and a federal red flag law.
- Supports community-led training for law enforcement, expanding community violence intervention programs, and advocates for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.

- Supports policies that address climate change.

Plans to adjust the housing supply by expanding federal support for housing planning and using federal resources to incentivize new housing construction.

Supports protecting residents from gentrification and displacement.

Supports expanding community violence intervention programs to enhance community safety.

Supports initiatives to community colleges and funding innovative education initiatives in neighborhood schools.

Carter Page has a bachelor's degree in political science from the U.S. Naval Academy. 

The Field is Set for the 18th: 16 Candidates vying to be the next 18th Congressional District Representative…Who Are They?

Carter is an American petroleum industry consultant. He has worked on strategic policy issues in the Texas state government since 2021. He previously served as a Fellow at the Center for National Policy in Washington. He was a founder of financial institutions focused on the energy sector and served as the Chief Operating Officer of the Energy & Power Group at Merrill Lynch. He was also a foreign policy advisor to Donald Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign.

Carter's campaign for U.S. Representative, Texas District 18 is his first entry into politics. 

As of October 7, 2025, Carter Page’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Believes safety has improved in Washington, D.C. and hopes to see similar trends in Houston.

Believes safety has improved in Washington, D.C., since the National Guard took over. and hopes to see similar "trends" in Houston.

- Believes safety has improved in Washington, D.C., since the National Guard took over. and hopes to see similar "trends" in Houston.

Supports U.S.-Russia arms control negotiations.

- Supports U.S.-Russia arms control negotiations.

Carter Page

Carter Page is from Houston, Texas. He has a bachelor's degree in political science from the U.S. Naval Academy, a master's degree in national security studies from Georgetown University, an MBA from New York University, and two LLM degrees from Fordham University and BPP University. 

Carter Page is an American petroleum industry consultant. He has worked on strategic policy issues in the Texas state government since 2021. He previously served as a Fellow at the Center for National Policy in Washington, where he focused on energy and foreign policy issues. He was a founder of financial institutions focused on the energy sector and served as the Chief Operating Officer of the Energy & Power Group at Merrill Lynch. As an investment banker, he advised on a diverse range of strategic and financing transactions in the global commodities sector. Carter graduated with Distinction from the U.S. Naval Academy, where he was a Trident Scholar.

Carter Page is from Houston, Texas. He has a bachelor's degree in political science from the U.S. Naval Academy, a master's degree in national security studies from Georgetown University, an MBA from New York University, and two LLM degrees from Fordham University and BPP University. He lives in Houston, Texas.

As of October 7, 2025, Carter Page did not have a website or any information online.

Carter Page graduated with distinction from the U.S. Naval Academy, where he was a Trident Scholar. He holds an LLM from Fordham University, an LLM from BPP University, an MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business, an MA in national security studies from Georgetown University, and a PhD from the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies. He lives in Houston, Texas.

Carter's campaign for U.S. Representative, Texas District 18 is his first entry into politics.

Christian Menefee was raised in Houston, Texas. He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas and a law degree from Washington University in St. Louis. Christian lives in Houston with his wife, Kaitlyn, and their two sons.

Christian previously served as the Harris County Attorney and worked as a commercial litigator. 

Christian Menefee, top civil attorney for Harris County government, announces bid for Sylvester Turner’s congressional seat

Christian served as the Harris County Attorney from 2020 to 2025. He resigned when he announced his candidacy for Congress, as required by law. 

Supports investing in career and technical education, apprenticeships, and industry certifications.

Supports expanding paid family leave, raising the minimum wage, and ensuring workers have access to training programs.

- Supports investing in career and technical education, apprenticeships, and industry certifications.
- Supports expanding paid family leave, raising the minimum wage, and ensuring workers have access to training programs.

Supports gun control policies, such as banning assault weapons, closing background check loopholes, and limiting high-capacity magazines.

Believes public safety requires investing in mental health care, substance abuse treatment, and domestic violence survivor protections, rather than just "tougher sentences."

Plans to end for-profit prisons and expand job training and reentry programs.

Plans to end for-profit prisons and expand job training and reentry programs for people leaving prison.

- Supports gun control policies, such as banning assault weapons, closing background check loopholes, and limiting high-capacity magazines.
- Believes public safety requires investing in mental health care, substance abuse treatment, and domestic violence survivor protections, rather than just "tougher sentences."
- Plans to end for-profit prisons and expand job training and reentry programs for people leaving prison.

Supports fully funding public education, raising teacher pay, and expanding Pell Grants.

Supports universal pre-kindergarten programs.

Opposes dismantling the Department of Education.

- Supports fully funding public education, raising teacher pay, and expanding Pell Grants.
- Supports universal pre-kindergarten programs.
- Opposes dismantling the Department of Education.

Supports abortion access, contraception, and in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Supports addressing the maternal mortality crisis among Black women.

Supports expanding access to healthcare for veterans.

Supports increased mental health services, job training, housing support, and healthcare for veterans.

- Supports abortion access, contraception, and in vitro fertilization (IVF).
- Supports addressing the maternal mortality crisis among Black women.
- Supports increased mental health services, job training, housing support, and healthcare for veterans.

Supports stronger environmental protections, accountability for polluters, and federal funds to clean contaminated sites.

- Supports stronger environmental protections, accountability for polluters, and federal funds to clean contaminated sites.

Supports passing the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act to protect every voter.

Supports passing the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act, which would require states with a history of voting discrimination to seek federal approval when changing voting laws.

- Supports passing the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act, which would require states with a history of voting discrimination to seek federal approval when changing voting laws.

Supports immigration reform, including protections for undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children, keeping families together through fair visa and refugee policies, and ensuring those fleeing violence and disasters are treated with dignity.

Supports immigration reform that protects immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, keeps families together, and treats refugees and people fleeing danger with dignity.

Supports expanding worker and student visa programs.

Supports "firm but limited enforcement focused on violent offenders, not law-abiding immigrants."

- Supports immigration reform that protects immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, keeps families together, and treats refugees and people fleeing danger with dignity.
- Supports expanding worker and student visa programs.
- Supports "firm but limited enforcement focused on violent offenders, not law-abiding immigrants."

Christian Dashaun Menefee

Christian served as the Harris County Attorney.

- Supports gun control policies, such as banning assault weapons, closing background check loopholes, and limiting high-capacity magazines.

- Supports fully funding public education, raising teacher pay, and expanding Pell Grants.

- Supports abortion access, contraception, and in vitro fertilization (IVF).
- Supports addressing the maternal mortality crisis among Black women.

Christian Menefee was raised in Texas’s 18th Congressional District by two military parents who taught him the values of service, hard work, and standing up for what’s right. He attended Houston’s public schools and with the help of a Pell Grant, became the first in his family to graduate college—earning a degree from The University of Texas at San Antonio before going on to law school at Washington University in St. Louis. Christian lives in Houston with his wife, Kaitlyn, their sons, Gabriel and Malcolm, and their rescue dogs, Howie and Kennedy.

Christian served as the Harris County Attorney. He was first elected in 2020 and reelected in 2024. 

Christian is currently the Harris County Attorney. He was first elected in 2020 and reelected in 2024. 

As of October 7, 2025, Christian Dashaun Menefee’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Forward Times

Feldon Bonner II is a Christian minister and a chapter lead for YPR-HOUSTON (Young People in Recovery). He attended the University of Saint Thomas. Feldon is married and lives in Houston.

Feldon is a contemporary gospel artist, Executive Director of POWERHOUSE MINISTRY, and Vice President of Urban Houston Network (UHN-TV). 

As of October 7, 2025, Feldon Bonner II did not have a website or any information online.

LinkedIn

Feldon Bonner II

Feldon Bonner II is a Christian minister and a chapter lead for YPR-HOUSTON (Young People in Recovery).

George Foreman IV was raised in Humble, Texas. He has a bachelor's degree in journalism and a bachelor's degree in public administration from Texas Southern University.

George works in developing educational and workforce initiatives for groups such as the National Job Corps Association, the NAACP, and local nonprofits.  Before, he taught U.S. history in Houston ISD schools.

George Foreman - Ballotpedia

George's campaign for U.S. House, Texas District 18 is his first entry into politics. 

Supports reducing bureaucratic obstacles, fostering innovation, and ensuring local resources are used to support community businesses.

- Supports reducing bureaucratic obstacles, fostering innovation, and ensuring local resources are used to support community businesses.

Supports vocational training and education to uplift Houston communities.

Supports helping youth pursue higher education, careers, or entrepreneurship.

- Supports vocational training and education to uplift Houston communities.
- Supports helping youth pursue higher education, careers, or entrepreneurship.

Believes "basic needs" like mental health care should be prioritized, saying, "too many parts of this district have been left waiting."

- Believes "basic needs" like mental health care should be prioritized, saying, "too many parts of this district have been left waiting."

As of October 7, 2025, George Edward Foreman IV’s website did not contain information on this issue.

George Edward Foreman IV

As of October 7, 2025, George Edward Foreman IV did not have a website or any information online.

George Foreman IV was raised in Humble, Texas. He has a bachelor's degree in journalism and a bachelor's degree in public administration from Texas Southern University. He attends the Church of the Living God.

Isaiah Martin is a Houston native. He attended the University of Houston. 

Isaiah previously worked as an advisor for Congresswoman Sheila Jackson.

Isaiah Martin - Ballotpedia

Isaiah Martin, former Senior Advisor to Sheila Jackson Lee, launches congressional run for 18th district

Isaiah previously ran for the same congressional seat in 2023 but did not win.

Supports applying the Social Security payroll tax to incomes over $400,000 to strengthen the program.

Supports ensuring public pension funds remain solvent and secure.

Supports ensuring public pension funds are protected and secure.

Supports national policies that guarantee paid family, medical, and sick leave for all workers.

Supports expanding access to affordable childcare.

Supports securing federal funding to upgrade Houston's flood control infrastructure.

Supports investing in workforce development programs and certification opportunities for high school graduates, focusing on healthcare, technology, and skilled trades.

Supports immigrant workers and small business owners by ensuring access to legal protections and opportunities.

- Supports applying the Social Security payroll tax to incomes over $400,000 to strengthen the program.
- Supports ensuring public pension funds are protected and secure.
- Supports national policies that guarantee paid family, medical, and sick leave for all workers.
- Supports expanding access to affordable childcare.
- Supports securing federal funding to upgrade Houston's flood control infrastructure.
- Supports investing in workforce development programs and certification opportunities for high school graduates, focusing on healthcare, technology, and skilled trades.
- Supports immigrant workers and small business owners by ensuring access to legal protections and opportunities.

Plans to work with local police and federal agencies to address the trafficking of stolen firearms.

Supports the passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act to ensure law enforcement accountability and provide funding for mental health services for police officers.

Supports community-led training for law enforcement, expanding community violence intervention programs, and advocates for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which would ban chokeholds, limit military equipment, and mandate body cameras. It would also provide funding for mental health services for the police.

Advocates for increased federal funding to help clear rape kit backlogs at the Houston Police Department and ensure survivors of sexual assault receive the justice and support they deserve.

Advocates for increased federal funding to help clear rape kit backlogs at the Houston Police Department.

- Supports gun control policies.
- Plans to work with local police and federal agencies to address the trafficking of stolen firearms.
- Supports community-led training for law enforcement, expanding community violence intervention programs, and advocates for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which would ban chokeholds, limit military equipment, and mandate body cameras. It would also provide funding for mental health services for the police.
- Advocates for increased federal funding to help clear rape kit backlogs at the Houston Police Department.

Supports increasing Title I funding for low-income schools.

Supports increasing funding for low-income schools.

Supports funding free school meal programs.

Supports eliminating tuition for community colleges and trade schools.

Supports making college more affordable through financial aid reform, including ending "predatory lending practices" and abolishing the 15-week requirement for Pell Grant eligibility.

Supports expanding mental health services in high schools and colleges.

- Supports increasing funding for low-income schools.
- Supports funding free school meal programs.
- Supports eliminating tuition for community colleges and trade schools.
- Supports making college more affordable through financial aid reform, including ending "predatory lending practices" and abolishing the 15-week requirement for Pell Grant eligibility.
- Supports expanding mental health services in high schools and colleges.

Supports a public option to provide "stability in coverage, lower costs, and affordable quality care."

Supports expanding Medicaid to include home health care for seniors.

Supports capping insulin prices at $35 per month for all individuals with diabetes.

Supports increasing funding for Medicare Advantage plans to expand coverage for vision, dental, and mental health care services.

Supports the federal government buying out medical debt for "pennies on the dollar" to relieve families of "unsustainable and completely unexpected medical debt."

- Supports a public option to provide "stability in coverage, lower costs, and affordable quality care."
- Supports expanding Medicaid to include home health care for seniors.
- Supports capping insulin prices at $35 per month for all individuals with diabetes.
- Supports increasing funding for Medicare Advantage plans to expand coverage for vision, dental, and mental health care services.
- Supports the federal government buying out medical debt for "pennies on the dollar" to relieve families of "unsustainable and completely unexpected medical debt."

Supports federal investments in renewable energy, carbon capture, energy-efficient buildings, and electric vehicle infrastructure.

- Supports federal investments in renewable energy, carbon capture, energy-efficient buildings, and electric vehicle infrastructure.
- Supports the Lead Pipe Replacement Initiative to replace lead pipes in Houston's older neighborhoods.
- Supports strengthening the oversight and enforcement powers of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ensure water safety and impose penalties for pollution.
- Supports securing federal funding to upgrade Houston's flood control infrastructure, including levees, reservoirs, and drainage systems.
- Supports establishing a federal emergency fund for rapid responses to water contamination crises.

Isaiah R. Martin

- Your US Representative represents the interests of your district in the US House of Representatives, the lower house of Congress. Texas currently has 36 US Representatives.
- US Representatives can author, sponsor, debate, and vote on bills that become national law.
- Representatives may serve on congressional committees. Committees focus on certain policy areas, such as transportation, education, or labor. They may also run for higher positions within their party, such as the Speaker of the House or Majority/Minority Leader.
- Representatives are elected to two-year terms. To hold this office, a candidate must be a legal resident of Texas for at least seven years before their election. US Representatives are paid a salary of $174,000/year.

Your representative and federal lawmaker in the US House of Representatives.