Q&A: Meet the 5 Democratic primary candidates running for US House District 22

A guide to the candidates running for Texas’ 22nd Congressional District in 2026

Chris Fernandez is from Matamoros, Mexico. He has a degree in accounting. 

Chris previously served in the U.S. Army.

Chris previously ran for U.S. House Texas District 22 in 2020 but did not win.

Chris Fernandez - Ballotpedia

Chris previously ran for U.S. representative for Texas' 22nd District in 2020 but did not win.

Believes Congress should retain the power of the purse, its authority to control taxing and spending.

- Believes Congress should retain the power of the purse, its authority to control taxing and spending.

Economy

As of January 22, 2026, Chris Fernandez did not have a website or any information online.

Public Safety

Said "I believe the major aspect of my platform is healthcare and real immigration reform."

- Said "I believe the major aspect of my platform is healthcare and real immigration reform."

Healthcare

Education

Energy & the Environment

Voting & Elections

Foreign Policy and Immigration

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

Chris Fernandez

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

Isaac Brickman

Walter Ley

Linkedin

Marquette Greene-Scott received a bachelor's and master's degree in Mathematics from Southern University and A&M College, and a law degree from Louisiana State University. She is married and a mother of one.

Marquette is Mayor Pro Tem of the City of Iowa Colony. They work on the city council, where they help vote on local issues. They previously worked in private practice as an attorney representing clients in voting rights cases.

Marquette has worked in the legal industry for 24 years, with experience in probate and estate planning, commercial litigation, and foreclosure auctions.

Marquette Greene-Scott -Higher Heights for America PAC

Marquette Greene-Scott - Ballotpedia

Marquette is the Mayor Pro Tem of the City of Iowa Colony, Texas. She ran for the United States House of Representatives, Texas District 22, in 2024 but lost.

Supports expanding access to childcare to encourage labor force participation.

Seeks to promote competition through anti-trust regulations.

Believes in "carefully managing interest rates to achieve a "soft landing without plunging into a recession."

Promises to vote for and introduce legislation that "helps Texans and all Americans find good-paying work that enhances their lives."

- Supports expanding access to childcare to encourage labor force participation.
- Seeks to promote competition through anti-trust regulations.
- Believes in "carefully managing interest rates to achieve a "soft landing without plunging into a recession."
- Promises to vote for and introduce legislation that "helps Texans and all Americans find good-paying work that enhances their lives."

As of January 22, 2026, Marquette Greene-Scott’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and its provisions, including coverage for pre-existing conditions, extended parental insurance for young adults, and Medicaid expansion.

- Supports abortion access.
- Supports universal healthcare.

Believes in protecting voter rights, has experience as a poll watcher, and is motivated by his grandmother's voting history to advocate for election integrity.

Wants to end partisan gerrymandering by instituting independent redistricting commissions.

- Believes in protecting voter rights.
- Wants to end partisan gerrymandering by instituting independent redistricting commissions.
- Supports stricter campaign finance laws.

Vows to work for a better future for our veterans and their families.

Wants to invest in increased border security measures and resources to expedite immigration case processing.

- Vows to work for a better future for our veterans and their families.
- Wants to invest in increased border security measures and resources to expedite immigration case processing.

LinkedIn

Youtube

Marquette Greene-Scott

Pearl Vuorinen received an associate's degree in nursing from the University of Detroit Mercy. She is a mother.

Pearl has worked as a Healthcare Executive for more than 12 years.

Pearl Vuorinen's campaign for U.S. House Texas District 22, Democratic Primary is her first entry into politics.

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Pearl's campaign for U.S. House, Texas District 22, Democratic Primary is her first entry into politics.

Believes economic growth should mean "opportunity, dignity, and security for workers—not just higher profits for corporations."

Thinks businesses and workers need "predictable, responsible leadership that understands budgets, workforce realities, and the cost of poor decision-making."

- Believes economic growth should mean "opportunity, dignity, and security for workers—not just higher profits for corporations."
- Thinks businesses and workers need "predictable, responsible leadership that understands budgets, workforce realities, and the cost of poor decision-making."

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

Aims to "put patients—not insurance companies—at the center of our healthcare system."

- Wants to lower healthcare costs.
- Supports expanding healthcare coverage.
- Aims to "put patients—not insurance companies—at the center of our healthcare system."

Thinks America's foreign policy should defend it's national interests, support it's allies, and prioritize diplomacy whenever possible, while ensuring service members are "only sent into harm’s way when it is absolutely necessary."

Opposes the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

- Thinks America's foreign policy should defend it's national interests, support it's allies, and prioritize diplomacy whenever possible, while ensuring service members are "only sent into harm’s way when it is absolutely necessary."
- Opposes the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Pearl Vuorinen

Robert "Puga" Thomas received a computer science degree from Prairie View A&M University.

Candidate website

Robert served for more than 30 years at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration as a systems engineer and project manager.

Robert previously ran for U.S. House District 36 in 2020 and for U.S. House District 22 in 2026 but did not win.

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2020 Early Voting in Texas | 12newsnow.com

Staff Directory Robert Thomas

Robert previously ran for the United States House Texas District 14 in 2020 but lost. He has also served on the West Columbia, Texas City Council since 1997.

Plans on investing in infrastructure that creates jobs.

Wants to support small businesses with "fewer barriers."

Aims to expand "training programs to prepare Texans for future careers."

Seeks to expand broadband internet "so every Texan—urban or rural—can stay connected and thrive."

Seeks to tax the middle class and work force "not on the wealth they gain but taxing only the growth of the wealth."

- Plans on investing in infrastructure that creates jobs.
- Wants to support small businesses with "fewer barriers."
- Aims to expand "training programs to prepare Texans for future careers."
- Seeks to expand broadband internet "so every Texan—urban or rural—can stay connected and thrive."
- Seeks to tax the middle class and work force "not on the wealth they gain but taxing only the growth of the wealth."

Promises to work to lower prescription drug prices.

Wants to "protect rural healthcare access so families don’t have to travel miles for basic care."

- Promises to work to lower prescription drug prices.
- Seeks to expand coverage options.
- Wants to "protect rural healthcare access so families don’t have to travel miles for basic care."

Wants to make sure teachers have the resources they need.

Supports vocational training and apprenticeships for "career-ready skills."

Promises to fight to "keep college affordable" for Texas families.

- Believes in "strong" public schools
- Wants to make sure teachers have the resources they need.
- Supports vocational training and apprenticeships for "career-ready skills."
- Promises to fight to "keep college affordable" for Texas families.

Supports the growth of renewable energy jobs while "protecting" traditional workers.

Promises to fight for clean air and water.

Wants to lead on climate resilience planning to "keep Texas safe from extreme weather."

- Prioritizes flood protection.
- Supports the growth of renewable energy jobs while "protecting" traditional workers.
- Promises to fight for clean air and water.
- Wants to lead on climate resilience planning to "keep Texas safe from extreme weather."

As of January 22, 2026, Robert "Puga" Thomas’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Robert "Puga" Thomas

Advocates for a pro-public-schools, pro-abortion rights campaign and aims to address property taxes, insurance costs, and corporate greed.

Sterling Gadison received a bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.

Sterling has worked as an Interdisciplinary Engineer, managing contracts for the United States Department of Defense for five years.

Sterling's campaign for Texas U.S. Representative, District 22, is his first time running for public office.

Sterling Gadison - Ballotpedia

- Aims to bring more jobs to the reigion.
- Wants to lower prices.

As of January 22, 2026, Sterling Gadison did not have a website or any information online.

Wants to guarantee universal health care for all Americans.

- Wants to guarantee universal health care for all Americans.

Seeks to maintain the security of our nation and its citizens.

- Seeks to maintain the security of our nation and its citizens.

Sterling Gadison

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

- 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 22, Democratic Primary

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Candidates (5)

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