Jessica Steinmann, a constitutional lawyer and former Justice Department official, is projected to win Texas's 8th Congressional District, according to Decision Desk HQ. With 91% of the vote counted, Steinmann leads Democrat Laura Jones by roughly 10 points.
Steinmann's victory was widely expected after she easily won the Republican primary in March. The district, located in southeastern Texas, was slightly redrawn by state lawmakers last year to favor the GOP, a pattern seen in other races across the country. In a related development, Missouri voters rejected a GOP redistricting plan, highlighting the contentious nature of such efforts.
Steinmann will succeed Rep. Morgan Luttrell, a 50-year-old former Navy SEAL who chose not to seek a second term. Luttrell's departure opened the door for Steinmann, who had the backing of the MAGA wing of the party.
During the Trump administration's first term, Steinmann served as director of the Justice Department's Office of Victims of Crime. Between Trump's terms, she was executive general counsel at the America First Policy Institute, where she led legal challenges to Democratic policies and sued Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg over his prosecution of Trump.
Steinmann also helped draft a 2021 Texas law that overhauled the state's voting system, a measure that Democrats in the legislature tried to block by fleeing the state. Her campaign emphasized hard-line positions on cultural issues, including opposition to diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, a ban on transgender girls in women's sports, and support for Trump's immigration crackdown.
Her victory is part of a broader Republican push in Texas, where Gober wins Texas's 10th District in another open-seat race. Steinmann's win also aligns with national trends, as Republicans face setbacks in other districts, but Texas's 8th remains safely in GOP hands.
Steinmann's alignment with Trump and her record of fighting for conservative causes are expected to make her a reliable vote for the administration's agenda. Her win solidifies the Republican hold on this seat, which has been a party stronghold for years.
