Who’s running? Republicans look to challenge El Paso Democratic stronghold in 2026 elections

Adam Bauman - Ballotpedia

Adam's campaign for U.S. representative for Texas' 16th District is his first run for public office.

Adam works as a business owner. He previously worked as a U.S. Border Patrol officer. Adam served in the U.S. Navy.

Supports increasing resources available to small businesses.

- Supports reducing property tax rates.
- Supports increasing resources available to small businesses.

Economy

Opposes personal recognizance bonds, which release defendants awaiting trial from jail based on a pre-release assessment instead of their ability to pay a cash bond.

- Opposes personal recognizance bonds, which release defendants awaiting trial from jail based on a pre-release assessment instead of their ability to pay a cash bond.

Public Safety

Supports reducing the cost of insurance premiums, "without the federal government subsidizing these costs."

- Supports reducing the cost of insurance premiums, "without the federal government subsidizing these costs."

Healthcare

Opposes the participation of transgender athletes in school sports.

- Opposes the participation of transgender athletes in school sports.

Education

As of January 22, 2026, Adam Bauman’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Energy & the Environment

Voting & Elections

Supports increasing law enforcement on the southern border.

Supports ensuring veterans receive their healthcare and benefits.

- Supports increasing law enforcement on the southern border.
- Supports ensuring veterans receive their healthcare and benefits.

Foreign Policy and Immigration

Ethics & Conduct

Instagram

Adam Bauman

Rafael Perez

Zachary Mangels

Walter Ley

El Paso Republican Party hold candidate ballot draw ahead of primaries

Deliris Montanez is from Hato Rey, Puerto Rico. She has a bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of Puerto Rico and a master's degree in management from Webster University.

Deliris Montanez - Ballotpedia

Deliris previously ran for U.S. representative for Texas' 16th District in 2024 and 2022, and city council member for El Paso's 1st District in 2022, but did not win.

Deliris currently works as the owner of the Equestrian Holistic Retreat Getaway for Those Who Serve US, LLC. She previously worked as an officer in the U.S. Border Patrol. Deliris served in the U.S. Army Reserve for 29 years.

Said she "[s]upport[s] legislation at the local level to end workplace abuse."

- Said she "[s]upport[s] legislation at the local level to end workplace abuse."
- Supports reducing tax rates.

Supports increasing transparency and accountability in policing.

- Supports increasing transparency and accountability in policing.

Supports increasing access to mental health care.

Supports expanding Medicare and Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act.

- Supports increasing access to mental health care.
- Opposes access to abortion.
- Supports expanding Medicare and Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act.

Said "[w]e must bring religion back to our schools."

- Said "[w]e must bring religion back to our schools."

Said "[p]rotecting the environment should be a top priority for our country’s leaders."

- Said "[p]rotecting the environment should be a top priority for our country’s leaders."

As of January 22, 2026, Deliris 'Dmb' Montanez’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports creating a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.

- Supports creating a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.

Twitter

Facebook

Deliris 'Dmb' Montanez

Hector Cabildo - Ballotpedia

Hector's campaign for U.S. representative for Texas' 16th District is his first run for public office.

Supports bringing specialized jobs to El Paso.

- Supports bringing specialized jobs to El Paso.

As of January 22, 2026, Hector Cabildo’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Said, "we need to guarantee that our Veterans receive the benefits they deserve."

Supports increasing efficiency in processing immigrants' visas.

- Said, "we need to guarantee that our Veterans receive the benefits they deserve."
- Supports increasing efficiency in processing immigrants' visas.

Hector Cabildo

MR. MANUEL J. BARRAZA

Manuel Barraza has a law degree from the University of Texas at Austin.

El Paso Republican Congressional Candidate Previously Convicted for Trading Sexual Favors in Courtroom

Manuel previously served as a judge for El Paso County Criminal District Court 1.

Manuel Barraza - Ballotpedia

Manuel currently works as a paralegal. He previously worked as an attorney.

Supports investing in constructing infrastructure.

- Supports increasing the minimum wage.
- Supports investing in constructing infrastructure.

As of January 22, 2026, Manuel J. Barraza’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports the direct physician care model, where patients pay a monthly fee to their doctor for healthcare, instead of paying for health insurance.

- Supports the direct physician care model, where patients pay a monthly fee to their doctor for healthcare, instead of paying for health insurance.

Opposes participation of transgender athletes in school sports.

- Opposes participation of transgender athletes in school sports.

Supports investing in technology and law enforcement at the southern border and providing a legal pathway to citizenship to immigrants.

- Supports investing in technology and law enforcement at the southern border and providing a legal pathway to citizenship to immigrants.

Judge Gets 5 Years in the Slammer

In 2010, Manuel was convicted of two counts of wire fraud and deprivation of honest services and one count of making false statements for soliciting sexual and monetary bribes while serving as a judge.

In 2012, Manuel had his law license revoked by the State Bar of Texas.

- In 2010, Manuel was convicted of two counts of wire fraud and deprivation of honest services and one count of making false statements for soliciting sexual and monetary bribes while serving as a judge.
- In 2012, Manuel had his law license revoked by the State Bar of Texas.

Manuel J. Barraza

As of January 22, 2026, Manuel J. Barraza did not have a website or any information online.

Judge Manuel J. Barraza

Mariesla Chavez - Ballotpedia

Marcy's campaign for U.S. representative for Texas' 16th District is his first run for public office.

Q&A: U.S. representative candidates for District 16 in March 3 Republican primary election

Marcy previously worked as an office manager and realtor assistant.

Opposes fraud and supports annual auditing of government agencies.

Believes people over 65 should not pay property taxes.

- Opposes fraud and supports annual auditing of government agencies.
- Supports making housing more affordable.
- Supports assistance for the homeless.
- Believes people over 65 should not pay property taxes.

As of January 22, 2026, Marisela (Marcy) Chavez’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Believes only natural born citizens of the United States should hold federal office.

- Believes only natural born citizens of the United States should hold federal office.

Marisela (Marcy) Chavez

Marcy Chavez

Candidate website

Raul Castaneda - Ballotpedia

Raul's campaign for U.S. representative for Texas' 16th District is his first run for public office.

Raul previously worked as a project manager for the Omega Train Group and an electricity and electronics teacher at Bernalillo High School. Raul served in the U.S. Navy for 23 years.

Supports increasing infrastructure construction.

- Supports increasing infrastructure construction.

As of January 22, 2026, Raul 'Bullet' Castaneda’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports increasing support for education.

- Supports increasing support for education.

Supports enhancing veteran disability claims and addressing flaws in the VA [Veterans Administration].

Supports increasing border crossing efficiency.

- Supports enhancing veteran disability claims and addressing flaws in the VA [Veterans Administration].
- Supports increasing border crossing efficiency.

Raul 'Bullet' Castaneda

Ruben Rios - Ballotpedia

Ruben's campaign for U.S. representative for Texas' 16th District is his first run for public office.

Candidates for District 16 in March 3 Republican primary election

Supports reduced tax rates and regulations.

- Supports reduced tax rates and regulations.

Believes public safety agencies, such as law enforcement, should be "able to do their jobs knowing that they have our  unvavering [sic] support."

- Opposes gun control.
- Believes public safety agencies, such as law enforcement, should be "able to do their jobs knowing that they have our  unvavering [sic] support."

Supports increasing competition of healthcare providers, price transparency, and creating subscription services for healthcare.

- Supports increasing competition of healthcare providers, price transparency, and creating subscription services for healthcare.
- Opposes access to abortion.

Said "[w]e must empower parents, value local control in education, and ensure our schools focus on academic excellence."

- Said "[w]e must empower parents, value local control in education, and ensure our schools focus on academic excellence."

Supports increasing energy production and eliminating taxes on carbon emissions.

- Supports increasing energy production and eliminating taxes on carbon emissions.

As of January 22, 2026, Ruben Rios’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports in "proper vetting," for immigrants.

- Believes in supporting veterans.
- Supports in "proper vetting," for immigrants.

Ruben Rios

- 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.

This sample ballot may not include all local party roles or measures on the official ballot. The listed candidates serve only within their party, and the propositions do not change the law.

Texas US Representative, District 16, Republican Primary

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