Earnest "Clayton" Clayton is from Port Arthur, Texas. He is the first in his family to pursue a terminal degree. 

I began my career in public health, serving Houston communities to confront inequities that affect everyday families. My work supported Black, Hispanic, and Brown communities, mixed-status households, and the LGBTQ+ community, while addressing women’s health and the rising rates of maternal mortality. Later, I carried that same passion into education, teaching Health Science and preparing students for life beyond graduation. Even while teaching, I continued my work in public health and policy to expand access to care, promote equity, and strengthen communities across Houston. For more than twenty years, I have worked at the intersection of health, infrastructure, and policy, addressing the issues that shape everyday life. From advancing equitable health programs and strengthening community partnerships to supporting schools and neighborhoods with limited resources, I have focused on creating systems that work for people, not against them.

Q&A: Hear from the Democratic primary candidates running for US House District 9

Earnest Clayton Jr. is a public health epidemiologist, educator, and policy professional with over 20 years of experience.

Supports strengthening small businesses through grants, low-interest loans, and technical assistance for local entrepreneurs.

Supports promoting fair wages and worker protections to help families afford to live where they work.

Believes in promoting "fair wages and worker protections" to help families afford to live where they work.

Supports expanding broadband and digital access to facilitate remote work, online business, and modern workforce skills.

Supports federal investment in job creation, particularly in manufacturing, clean energy, healthcare, and technology.

Advocates for federal investment in job creation, particularly in manufacturing, clean energy, healthcare, and technology.

- Supports strengthening small businesses through grants, low-interest loans, and technical assistance for local entrepreneurs.
- Believes in promoting "fair wages and worker protections" to help families afford to live where they work.
- Supports expanding broadband and digital access to facilitate remote work, online business, and modern workforce skills.
- Advocates for federal investment in job creation, particularly in manufacturing, clean energy, healthcare, and technology.

Economy

Supports investing in community-based violence prevention programs that address root causes before crime occurs.

Supports expanding mental health crisis services, including stronger 988 staffing, training, and coordination, to provide families with help in moments of crisis without relying solely on law enforcement.

Seeks to expand mental health crisis services, including stronger 988 staffing, training, and coordination, to provide families with help in moments of crisis without relying solely on law enforcement.

For Candidate Earnest Clayton, Jr. on Issue public-safety:  
Supports increasing transparency and accountability in public safety agencies to rebuild trust.

Believes in "increasing transparency and accountability" in public safety agencies to rebuild trust.

Supports youth programs and mentorship opportunities to keep young people engaged and safe.

Supports improving emergency response systems to ensure faster fire, police, and EMS support in high-risk areas.

Advocates for "improving emergency response systems" to ensure faster fire, police, and Emergency Medical Services support in high-risk areas.

Supports securing federal funding for safer streets, including improvements in lighting, sidewalks, and traffic safety.

Seeks to secure federal funding for safer streets, including improvements in lighting, sidewalks, and traffic safety.

For Candidate Earnest Clayton, Jr. on Issue public-safety:  
Supports strengthening disaster and chemical release notifications to provide residents with timely and accurate information.

Wants to strengthen disaster and chemical release notifications to provide residents with timely and accurate information.

For Candidate Earnest Clayton, Jr. on Issue public-safety: Supports promoting community oversight and accountability to ensure public institutions, including law enforcement, serve residents with fairness and transparency.

Promotes "community oversight and accountability" to ensure public institutions, including law enforcement, serve residents with "fairness and transparency."

- Supports investing in community-based violence prevention programs that address root causes before crime occurs.
- Seeks to expand mental health crisis services, including stronger 988 staffing, training, and coordination, to provide families with help in moments of crisis without relying solely on law enforcement.
- Believes in "increasing transparency and accountability" in public safety agencies to rebuild trust.
- Supports youth programs and mentorship opportunities to keep young people engaged and safe.
- Advocates for "improving emergency response systems" to ensure faster fire, police, and Emergency Medical Services support in high-risk areas.
- Seeks to secure federal funding for safer streets, including improvements in lighting, sidewalks, and traffic safety.
- Wants to strengthen disaster and chemical release notifications to provide residents with timely and accurate information.
- Promotes "community oversight and accountability" to ensure public institutions, including law enforcement, serve residents with "fairness and transparency."

Public Safety

Supports protecting and strengthening Medicare and Medicaid to ensure seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income families receive necessary care.

Supports protecting and strengthening Medicare and Medicaid to ensure seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income families "receive the care they rely on."

Supports ensuring Affordable Care Act plans remain affordable by expanding premium subsidies, reducing out-of-pocket costs, and keeping Marketplace plans accessible for working families.

Promises to ensure Affordable Care Act plans "remain affordable" by expanding premium subsidies, reducing out-of-pocket costs, and "guaranteeing that Marketplace plans stay within reach" for working families.

Aims to increase federal funding for community clinics and mobile health units to improve access to primary care and specialty services in underserved neighborhoods.

Aims to increase federal funding for community clinics and mobile health units.

Supports promoting telehealth access for medical, behavioral, and preventive services to reduce transportation barriers.

Advocates for telehealth access for medical, behavioral, and preventive services to reduce transportation barriers.

Plans to grow the healthcare workforce by supporting training programs for nurses, mental health providers, EMS workers, and community health workers in District 9.

- Supports protecting and strengthening Medicare and Medicaid to ensure seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income families "receive the care they rely on."
- Promises to ensure Affordable Care Act plans "remain affordable" by expanding premium subsidies, reducing out-of-pocket costs, and "guaranteeing that Marketplace plans stay within reach" for working families.
- Aims to increase federal funding for community clinics and mobile health units.
- Advocates for telehealth access for medical, behavioral, and preventive services to reduce transportation barriers.
- Plans to grow the healthcare workforce by supporting training programs for nurses, mental health providers, EMS workers, and community health workers in District 9.

Healthcare

Opposes efforts to defund or privatize public education, including voucher programs that drain resources from neighborhood schools.

Opposes efforts to defund or privatize public education, including voucher programs that "drain resources" from neighborhood schools.

Supports strengthening career and technical education to ensure students graduate with certifications and job-ready skills.

Aims to strengthen career and technical education so "students can graduate with certifications and job-ready skills."

Supports investing in early education, after-school programs, and literacy support to help students thrive.

Supports investing in early education, after-school programs, and literacy support to "help students thrive from the start."

Supports teachers through fair pay, retention programs, and safe working conditions.

Wants teachers to have "fair pay, retention programs, and safe working conditions."

Supports expanding community college and workforce training pathways to provide affordable routes into good-paying careers for young people and adults.

Believes in expanding community college and workforce training pathways.

- Opposes efforts to defund or privatize public education, including voucher programs that "drain resources" from neighborhood schools.
- Aims to strengthen career and technical education so "students can graduate with certifications and job-ready skills."
- Supports investing in early education, after-school programs, and literacy support to "help students thrive from the start."
- Wants teachers to have "fair pay, retention programs, and safe working conditions."
- Believes in expanding community college and workforce training pathways.

Education

Supports stronger federal oversight and environmental compliance to protect communities from industrial runoff and overdevelopment.

Wants stronger federal oversight and environmental compliance to "protect communities from industrial runoff and overdevelopment."

For Candidate Earnest Clayton, Jr. on Issue energy-and-environment: Supports expanding green infrastructure, including detention ponds, permeable surfaces, and tree-canopy projects to reduce heat and absorb excess water.

Advocates for expanding green infrastructure, including detention ponds, permeable surfaces, and tree-canopy projects to reduce heat and absorb excess water.

For Candidate Earnest Clayton, Jr. on Issue energy-and-environment:  
Supports fighting for equitable distribution of federal recovery funds to ensure working-class and historically underserved neighborhoods are not left behind.

Claims he will fight for "equitable distribution of federal recovery funds so working-class and historically underserved neighborhoods are not left behind — again."

For Candidate Earnest Clayton, Jr. on Issue energy-and-environment:  
Aims to secure major federal funding for drainage upgrades, flood-mitigation projects, and resilient infrastructure in high-risk neighborhoods.

Aims to secure federal funding for drainage upgrades, flood-mitigation projects, and resilient infrastructure in high-risk neighborhoods.

Supports prioritizing bayou improvements, levee strengthening, and critical stormwater projects in collaboration with the Army Corps of Engineers and FEMA.

Prioritizes bayou improvements, levee strengthening, and stormwater projects in collaboration with the Army Corps of Engineers and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Wants stronger federal oversight and environmental compliance to "protect communities" from industrial runoff and overdevelopment.

For Candidate Earnest Clayton, Jr. on Issue energy-and-environment: Supports elevation assistance, home hardening programs, and buyout options for families living in areas that flood repeatedly.

Seeks assistance with elevation, home hardening programs, and buyout options for families living in areas that repeatedly flood.

Supports improving disaster-response systems with faster alerts, better evacuation planning, and coordinated support for vulnerable residents during storms.

Believes in improving disaster-response systems with faster alerts, better evacuation planning, and coordinated support for "vulnerable residents" during storms.

Supports environmental clean-up efforts and the removal of hazardous sites that have harmed neighborhoods for decades.

Supports environmental clean-up efforts and the removal of hazardous sites that have "harmed neighborhoods for decades."

- Wants stronger federal oversight and environmental compliance to "protect communities from industrial runoff and overdevelopment."
- Advocates for expanding green infrastructure, including detention ponds, permeable surfaces, and tree-canopy projects to reduce heat and absorb excess water.
- Claims he will fight for "equitable distribution of federal recovery funds so working-class and historically underserved neighborhoods are not left behind — again."
- Aims to secure federal funding for drainage upgrades, flood-mitigation projects, and resilient infrastructure in high-risk neighborhoods.
- Prioritizes bayou improvements, levee strengthening, and stormwater projects in collaboration with the Army Corps of Engineers and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
- Wants stronger federal oversight and environmental compliance to "protect communities" from industrial runoff and overdevelopment.
- Seeks assistance with elevation, home hardening programs, and buyout options for families living in areas that repeatedly flood.
- Believes in improving disaster-response systems with faster alerts, better evacuation planning, and coordinated support for "vulnerable residents" during storms.
- Supports environmental clean-up efforts and the removal of hazardous sites that have "harmed neighborhoods for decades."

Energy & the Environment

Supports protecting voting rights and opposing efforts to restrict ballot access, gerrymander districts, or silence underrepresented communities.

Wants to "protect voting rights and oppose efforts to restrict ballot access, gerrymander districts, or silence underrepresented communities."

- Wants to "protect voting rights and oppose efforts to restrict ballot access, gerrymander districts, or silence underrepresented communities."

Voting & Elections

Supports defending immigrant families by ensuring access to fair processes, legal protections, and safe communities free from intimidation.

Supports defending immigrant families by ensuring access to "fair processes, legal protections, and safe communities free from intimidation."

- Supports defending immigrant families by ensuring access to "fair processes, legal protections, and safe communities free from intimidation."

Foreign Policy and Immigration

Instagram

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Earnest Clayton, Jr.

Twitter

Zachary Mangels

Buket Urgen

Walter Ley

Supports environmental justice protections and accountability for industries that harm low-income or minority neighborhoods.

Supports strengthening 988 crisis support with faster response times, culturally competent care, and better coordination with local mental health providers.

Aims to expand access to mental health treatment, including therapy, crisis stabilization, substance use services, and trauma-informed care.

Supports maternal health, HIV prevention, chronic disease management, and senior care, ensuring comprehensive support for vulnerable populations.

Supports expanding green infrastructure, including detention ponds, permeable surfaces, and tree-canopy projects to reduce heat and absorb excess water.

Supports fighting for green buffers, community green spaces, and heat-mitigation projects to protect public health and improve quality of life.

Leticia Gutierrez is from Texas. She is a mother of two.

Leticia Gutierrez earned a bachelor's degree in international business from the University of St. Thomas in Houston. She is a mother of two. 

Leticia is a finance professional. She graduated from the University of St. Thomas with a degree in finance. Leticia's parents were farm laborers.

Leticia Gutierrez - Ballotpedia

Leticia has been the Government Relations and Community Outreach Director at Air Alliance Houston, a nonprofit environmental advocacy organization, for over 10 years.

Leticia is currently a member of the Texas House of Representatives. She was first elected in 2022 and is currently serving her second term.

360 Corridor Democratic Action!

Leticia ran for a Houston City Council seat in 2011 but lost.

Believes the government is prioritizing subsidies for large corporations at the expense of hardworking families.

Believes the government is prioritizing subsidies for large corporations at the expense of "hardworking families."

Opposes the government "feeding subsidies to large corporations all while hardworking families foot the bill."

- Believes the government is prioritizing subsidies for large corporations at the expense of "hardworking families."
- Prioritizes affordability for families.
- Opposes the government "feeding subsidies to large corporations all while hardworking families foot the bill."

Believes the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency is responsible for the death of Renee Good.

- Believes the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency is responsible for the death of Renee Good.

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

Wants to ensure infrastructure is prepared for extreme weather events, focusing on aging pipes, power lines, and freeways to enhance safety for residents.

Wants to ensure infrastructure is prepared for extreme weather events, with a focus on aging pipes, power lines, and freeways to enhance resident safety.

- Wants to ensure infrastructure is prepared for extreme weather events, with a focus on aging pipes, power lines, and freeways to enhance resident safety.

Believes in ensuring immigrants receive fair treatment and due process, emphasizing community input and government transparency.

Believes in ensuring immigrants receive due process, emphasizing community input and government transparency.

- Believes in ensuring immigrants receive due process, emphasizing community input and government transparency.

Leticia Gutierrez

Marty has a bachelor's degree in applied arts and sciences and criminal justice from Mid-Western State University and Kennedy Western University.

Marty is a patrol sergeant. He works at the Harris County Sheriff's Office, where he has been since 1991. He previously worked as a patrol officer and as an agent with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.

Q&A: See the 2 candidates vying for Texas House District 28 ...

Marty previously worked as a patrol sergeant at the Harris County Sheriff's Office, as a patrol officer, and as an agent with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.

Marty Rocha is running for election to the U.S. House to represent Texas’s 9th Congressional District in the Democratic primary on March 3, 2026. He defeated Nelvin Adriatico in the March 5, 2024 Democratic primary for Texas House of Representatives District 28. He previously ran in the March 1, 2022 Democratic primary for Texas House District 85.

Marty Rocha - Ballotpedia

Marty Rocha | BallotReady

Marty previously ran for Texas House of Representatives District 28 in 2024, but did not win. He also ran in the March 1, 2022 Democratic primary for Texas House District 85, but did not win. 

Supports the abolition of all existing government-enforced monopolies, whether government or private corporations.

Wants to exempt senior citizens age 65 and older from paying school taxes on their homestead property

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

Supports the right of Texans to discuss and vote on independence due to perceived overreach by the U.S. federal government beyond its Constitutional authority.

Supports enforcing current immigration laws and reforming laws to ensure constitutionality.

- Supports enforcing current immigration laws and reforming laws to ensure constitutionality.

Marty Rocha

Supports legislation to forbid tolls on highways obtained with tax dollars or through eminent domain, while upholding the right of private enterprise to construct and operate toll roads through free market transactions.

Supports a moratorium on government borrowing and advocates for liquidating government-owned assets to repay outstanding debt.

For Candidate Marty Rocha on Issue public-safety:  
Calls for the complete repeal of the USA-PATRIOT Act and any laws that allow wiretapping or search and seizure of private communications or property without a warrant.

For Candidate Marty Rocha on Issue public-safety:  
Supports legislation that forbids the execution of "no-knock" warrants unless there is substantial probable cause with supportive evidence to avoid death or serious injury to an innocent person.

For Candidate Marty Rocha on Issue public-safety:  
Supports abolishing legal doctrines that shield government employees from liability.

For Candidate Marty Rocha on Issue public-safety: Supports the complete restoration of rights for former offenders to promote rehabilitation, reduce recidivism, and encourage reintegration into society.

Opposes the death penalty and any unnecessary use of force by state agents in response to criminal action.

For Candidate Marty Rocha on Issue public-safety:  
Supports the unalienable right of individuals to purchase, possess, manufacture, trade, own, and carry arms, including body armor, for personal and property defense in accordance with the Second Amendment.

For Candidate Marty Rocha on Issue Economy: Advocates for an end to all taxation, viewing taxes as theft and oppressive, and believes that private charity is more effective than government wealth redistribution.

Opposes the idea of healthcare as a right at others' expense, advocates phasing out Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIPS, supports free market healthcare systems, and opposes single-payer concepts and tax subsidies related to the Affordable Care Act.

For Candidate Marty Rocha on Issue healthcare:  
Opposes government mandates on medical treatments and protective equipment, emphasizing personal liberties.

For Candidate Marty Rocha on Issue healthcare: Supports the right of individuals to end their lives with dignity and opposes the prosecution of those involved in consensual assisted suicide.

For Candidate Marty Rocha on Issue healthcare:  
Opposes the use of tax dollars for medical costs.

For Candidate Marty Rocha on Issue healthcare:  
Supports the right of individuals to seek medical care of their choice, advocates for a free market in healthcare, and opposes government mandates on medical procedures without consent.

Supports eliminating truancy laws and barriers to school choice, advocating for parental authority in education decisions and restoring decision-making to parents, guardians, teachers, and local education boards.

Opposes federal involvement in local school systems, including funding.

For Candidate Marty Rocha on Issue education:  
Supports a nonpartisan education funding policy aimed at equitable use of state funds to eliminate waste and decrease bureaucracy, with the goal of voluntary funding.

Opposes the use of eminent domain in any form.

Supports transparency in publicly funded elections through verifiable ballot receipts and/or electronic tracking, and opposes counting votes outside of public view.

Opposes mandatory party affiliation and partisan labels on the ballot, supporting voting as a voluntary expression of the right to freedom of association.

Supports removing restrictions on eligibility to sign candidate and party petitions, ensuring all eligible voters can voice their opinions without being silenced.

Supports election reform to eliminate the two-party duopoly and corporate influence, advocates for self-funded party primaries, and believes in a more representative election process that includes a choice for None of The Above (NOTA). Supports transparency in campaign financing.

Opposes the mobilization of the Texas National Guard outside the U.S. except upon Congressional declaration of war and supports legislation to enforce this restriction.

Peter is from Oceanside, New York. He attended Suffern High School. He has a bachelor's degree in resource management from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, New York. He lives in Houston, Texas, with his wife, Elizabeth.

Peter Filler - Ballotpedia

Peter Filler has a bachelor's degree in resource management from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. He has a wife.

Linkedin

Peter is a realtor. He has also worked at an insurance company for the past 10 years,

Peter Filler's campaign for U.S. Representative for Texas's 9th Congressional District is his first entry into politics.

Peter previously ran for and lost the race for the United States House of Representative's District 2 in 2024.

Opposes tariffs on lumber, steel, and appliances, arguing they increase costs for new homes and make it harder for families to save for down payments, delaying the dream of homeownership.

Opposes tariffs on lumber, steel, and appliances, arguing they increase costs for new homes and make it harder for families to save for down payments.

Promises to ensure federal infrastructure funds are spent efficiently and without "massive cost overruns caused by political gamesmanship."

Supports trade policies that aim to create "stability, predictability, and low prices for American consumers and manufacturers."

Supports trade policies that create "stability, predictability, and low prices for American consumers and manufacturers."

Supports establishing a "common-sense work permit program" for essential industries like agriculture and construction.

Wants to establish a "common-sense work permit program" for essential industries like agriculture and construction.

- Opposes tariffs on lumber, steel, and appliances, arguing they increase costs for new homes and make it harder for families to save for down payments.
- Promises to ensure federal infrastructure funds are spent efficiently and without "massive cost overruns caused by political gamesmanship."
- Supports trade policies that create "stability, predictability, and low prices for American consumers and manufacturers."
- Wants to establish a "common-sense work permit program" for essential industries like agriculture and construction.

Said, "I want to work on the Homeland Security Committee to pass a bill that will take deadly Fentanyl and Heroine off our streets, and out of our kids hands."

Wants to work on the Homeland Security Committee to pass a bill that will help curb drug use.

Said, "I want to work on the Homeland Security Committee on a bill to prevent gun violence tragedies in our schools."

Aims to help stop gun violence in schools.

- Wants to work on the Homeland Security Committee to pass a bill that will help curb drug use.
- Aims to help stop gun violence in schools.

Supports legalizing marijuana and using the tax proceeds to fund drug treatment programs.

Aims to legalize marijuana and use the tax proceeds to fund drug treatment programs.

Committed to expanding access to affordable healthcare.

Wants to "protect and strengthen" Medicare and Medicaid.

Believes in lowering prescription drug costs.

- Supports abortion access.
- Aims to legalize marijuana and use the tax proceeds to fund drug treatment programs.
- Committed to expanding access to affordable healthcare.
- Wants to "protect and strengthen" Medicare and Medicaid.
- Believes in lowering prescription drug costs.

Supports early childhood education and affordable college and vocational training.

Believes in voactional training as an alternative to college. 

Promises to fight for increased federal funding to ensure every student in Texas District 9 has access to "quality schools, well paid teachers and modern resources."

- Supports "affordable college."
- Believes in voactional training as an alternative to college. 
- Promises to fight for increased federal funding to ensure every student in Texas District 9 has access to "quality schools, well paid teachers and modern resources."

Said, "One of my missions is to pass a bill that would strengthen the reliability of Solar and Wind power."

Committed to passing a bill that would "strengthen the reliability of Solar and Wind power."

Supports researching and developing biofuels and other renewable fuel sources.

- Committed to passing a bill that would "strengthen the reliability of Solar and Wind power."
- Supports researching and developing biofuels and other renewable fuel sources.

Supports term limits for Congress and the Supreme Court.

Seeks to introduce term limits for Congress and the Supreme Court.

- Seeks to introduce term limits for Congress and the Supreme Court.

Supports funding resources and training for diplomats to "avoid wars and end current conflicts..."

Prioritizes diplomatic solutions as a means to avoid wars and end current conflicts worldwide.

Opposes "no-bid contracts" for border security, calling them a "massive abuse of taxpayer dollars."

Supports stopping unlawful arrests, detentions of American citizens, and the denial of due process.

Supports stopping "unlawful arrests, detentions of American citizens, and the denial of due process."

Believes in focusing government resources on "dangerous, hardened criminals" rather than "working people who contribute to our community."

- Prioritizes diplomatic solutions as a means to avoid wars and end current conflicts worldwide.
- Opposes "no-bid contracts" for border security, calling them a "massive abuse of taxpayer dollars."
- Supports stopping "unlawful arrests, detentions of American citizens, and the denial of due process."
- Believes in focusing government resources on "dangerous, hardened criminals" rather than "working people who contribute to our community."

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Peter Filler

Opposes tariffs, believing they harm infrastructure projects and increase costs for working families.

Supports immigration reform that guarantees workers' rights and safe conditions, and ensuring immigrants do not displace American workers through "unfair, exploited competition."

Believes the current administration is "robbing us" and using the border issue for political cover.

- 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.

Texas US Representative, District 9, Democratic Primary

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