# Texas's 26th congressional district

Texas' 26th congressional district of the United States House of Representatives includes rural Cooke County to the north and some of Wise County to the West and includes parts of Denton County, including Flower Mound, Lewisville and parts of Corinth, Carrollton, Little Elm and The Colony. The current Representative is Brandon Gill. The district is best known as the seat of former House Majority Leader Dick Armey.

## History

The district was created as a result of the redistricting cycle after the 1980 census, due to the population growth in Texas and Denton County, specifically in its southern sector. Since its creation, the district has been based in Denton County, one of Texas' fastest-growing counties.
Democrat Tom Vandergriff was the first person to represent the district, winning in 1982. Vandergriff narrowly lost to Republican Dick Armey in 1984, and the seat has continuously been held by Republicans ever since. Indeed, since Vandergriff's defeat in 1984, no Democrat has crossed the 40 percent mark. As Denton County has become overwhelmingly Republican in recent years (all but one county officeholder is Republican, as are all members of the Texas Legislature representing the county), the 26th district is considered a "safe seat" for the GOP.
Since the 2010 redistricting, the 26th district has included most of Denton County (except the southeast portion) and a portion of north central Tarrant County.
However, the district has been trending Democratic in recent years. Donald Trump carried it by 14 points in 2020, while Mitt Romney had carried it by 37 in 2012.
After the 2020 census, rapid growth resulted in significant changes in the composition of the district. For the first time since the district's creation, the City of Denton, the county seat of Denton County, will not be a part of the district. It was instead shifted to the Panhandle-based 13th district. The 26th also lost its small share of Frisco. To make up for the loss of population, portions of Wise County and all of Cooke County will become part of the district. Lewisville will become the largest city in the district.
Denton had become increasingly friendly to Democrats in recent years, and voting trends suggested that under the previous map, the 26th could have potentially become competitive. The redrawn 26th, on the other hand, is considered slightly more Republican than its predecessor.

## Recent election results from statewide races

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2008 | President | McCain 67% - 33% |
| 2012 | President | Romney 71% - 29% |
| 2014 | Senate | Cornyn 76% - 24% |
| 2014 | Governor | Abbott 72% - 28% |
| 2016 | President | Trump 63% - 32% |
| 2018 | Senate | Cruz 60% - 40% |
| 2018 | Governor | Abbott 65% - 33% |
| 2018 | Lt. Governor | Patrick 60% - 37% |
| 2018 | Attorney General | Paxton 59% - 38% |
| 2020 | President | Trump 59% - 40% |
| 2020 | Senate | Cornyn 61% - 37% |
| 2022 | Governor | Abbott 61% - 37% |
| 2022 | Lt. Governor | Patrick 60% - 38% |
| 2022 | Attorney General | Paxton 59% - 37% |
| 2022 | Comptroller of Public Accounts | Hegar 63% - 34% |
| 2024 | President | Trump 61% - 38% |
| 2024 | Senate | Cruz 58% - 40% |

## Composition

For the 118th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2020 census), the district contains all or portions of the following counties and communities:
Cooke County (9)
    All 9 communities
Denton County (46)
    Argyle, Aubrey, Bartonville, Carrollton (part; also 24th, 32nd, and 33rd; shared with Dallas County), Celina (part; also 4th; shared with Collin County), The Colony, Coppell (part; also 24th; shared with Dallas County), Copper Canyon, Corral City, Corinth, Cross Roads, Denton (part; also 13th), DISH, Double Oak, Flower Mound (part; also 24th; shared with Tarrant County), Fort Worth (part; also 12th, 24th, 25th, and 33rd; shared with Johnson, Parker, Tarrant, and Wise counties), Frisco (part; also 3rd and 4th; shared with Collin County), Grapevine (part; also 24th; shared with Dallas and Tarrant counties), Hackberry, Haslet (part; also 12th; shared with Tarrant County), Hebron (part; also 4th; shared with Collin County), Hickory Creek, Highland Village, Justin, Krugerville, Lake Dallas, Lakewood Village, Lewisville (part; also 24th; shared with Dallas County), Lantana, Little Elm, Northlake, Oak Point, Paloma Creek, Paloma Creek South, Pilot Point, Plano (part; also 3rd, 4th, and 32nd; shared with Collin County), Ponder, Prosper (part; also 4th; shared with Collin County), Providence Village, Roanoke (part; also 24th; shared with Tarrant County), Sanger, Savannah, Shady Shores, Southlake (part; also 24th; shared with Tarrant County), Trophy Club (part; also 24th; shared with Tarrant County), Westlake (part; also 24th; shared with Tarrant County)
Tarrant County (2)
    Fort Worth (part; also 12th, 24th, 25th, and 33rd; shared with Denton, Johnson, Parker, and Wise counties), Haslet (part; also 12th; shared with Denton County)
Wise County (10)
    Aurora, Boyd, Briar (part; also 12th; shared with Tarrant County), Decatur (part; also 13th), Fort Worth (part; also 12th, 24th, 25th, and 33rd; shared with Denton, Johnson, Parker, and Tarrant counties), Newark, New Fairview (shared with Denton County), Paradise, Pecan Acres (part; also 12th; shared with Tarrant County), Rhome

## List of members representing the district

| Representative | Party | Years | Cong ress | Electoral history | District location |
| District established January 3, 1983 ||||||
| Tom Vandergriff (Arlington) | Democratic | January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1985 | 98th | Elected in 1982. Lost re-election. | 1983–1985 [data missing] |
| Dick Armey (Irving) | Republican | January 3, 1985 – January 3, 2003 | 99th 100th 101st 102nd 103rd 104th 105th 106th 107th | Elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Re-elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Retired. | 1985–1993 [data missing] |
| Dick Armey (Irving) | Republican | January 3, 1985 – January 3, 2003 | 99th 100th 101st 102nd 103rd 104th 105th 106th 107th | Elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Re-elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Retired. | 1993–1997 Parts of Collin, Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant |
| Dick Armey (Irving) | Republican | January 3, 1985 – January 3, 2003 | 99th 100th 101st 102nd 103rd 104th 105th 106th 107th | Elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Re-elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Retired. | 1997–2003 Parts of Collin, Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant |
| Michael C. Burgess (Pilot Point) | Republican | January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2025 | 108th 109th 110th 111th 112th 113th 114th 115th 116th 117th 118th | Elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Retired. | 2003–2005 Denton; parts of Collin and Tarrant |
| Michael C. Burgess (Pilot Point) | Republican | January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2025 | 108th 109th 110th 111th 112th 113th 114th 115th 116th 117th 118th | Elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Retired. | 2005–2013 Parts of Cooke, Denton, and Tarrant |
| Michael C. Burgess (Pilot Point) | Republican | January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2025 | 108th 109th 110th 111th 112th 113th 114th 115th 116th 117th 118th | Elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Retired. | 2013–2023 Parts of Denton and Tarrant |
| Michael C. Burgess (Pilot Point) | Republican | January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2025 | 108th 109th 110th 111th 112th 113th 114th 115th 116th 117th 118th | Elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Retired. | 2023–present Cooke; parts of Denton, Tarrant, and Wise |
| Brandon Gill (Flower Mound) | Republican | January 3, 2025 – present | 119th | Elected in 2024. | 2023–present Cooke; parts of Denton, Tarrant, and Wise |

## Recent election results
### 2004 election

US House election, 2004: Texas District 26 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Michael Burgess (incumbent) | 180,519 | 65.75 | −9.1 |
| | Democratic | Lico Reyes | 89,809 | 32.71 | +9.9 |
| | Libertarian | James Gholston | 4,211 | 1.53 | +0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 90,710 | 33.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 274,539 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | -9.5 | |

### 2006 election

US House election, 2006: Texas District 26 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Michael Burgess (incumbent) | 94,219 | 60.21 | −5.54 |
| | Democratic | Tim Barnwell | 58,271 | 37.23 | +4.52 |
| | Libertarian | Rich Haas | 3,993 | 2.55 | +1.02 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 35,948 | 22.97 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 156,483 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | -5.03 | |

### 2008 election

US House election, 2008: Texas District 26 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Michael Burgess (incumbent) | 194,849 | 60.19 | −0.02 |
| | Democratic | Ken Leach | 117,895 | 36.42 | −0.82 |
| | Libertarian | Stephanie Weiss | 11,002 | 3.40 | 0.85 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 76,954 | 23.77 | +0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 323,746 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | -0.02 | |

### 2010 election

US House election, 2010: Texas District 26 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Michael Burgess (incumbent) | 120,683 | 67.08 | +6.89 |
| | Democratic | Neil Durrance | 55,182 | 30.67 | −5.75 |
| | Libertarian | Mark Boler | 4,049 | 2.25 | −1.15 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 65,501 | 36.41 | +12.64 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 179,914 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | +6.89 | |

### 2016 election

US House election, 2016: Texas District 26 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Michael Burgess (incumbent) | 211,730 | 66.4 | −0.68 |
| | Democratic | Eric Mauck | 94,507 | 29.6 | −1.07 |
| | Libertarian | Mark Boler | 12,843 | 4.0 | +1.75 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 117,223 | 36.8 | +0.39 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 319,080 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | -0.68 | |

### 2018 election

US House election, 2018: Texas District 26 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Michael Burgess (incumbent) | 185,551 | 59.4 | −7.0 |
| | Democratic | Linsey Fagan | 121,938 | 39.0 | +9.4 |
| | Libertarian | Mark Boler | 5,016 | 1.6 | −2.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 59,613 | 20.4 | −16.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 312,505 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | -7.0 | |

### 2020 election

US House election, 2020: Texas District 26 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Michael C. Burgess (incumbent) | 261,963 | 60.6 |
| | Democratic | Carol Iannuzzi | 161,009 | 37.3 |
| | Libertarian | Mark Boler | 9,243 | 2.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 432,215 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2022 election

US House election, 2022: Texas District 26 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Michael Burgess (incumbent) | 183,639 | 69.2 |
| | Libertarian | Mike Kolls | 81,384 | 30.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 265,023 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2024

US House election, 2024: Texas District 26 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Brandon Gill | 241,096 | 62.1 |
| | Democratic | Ernest Lineberger | 138,558 | 35.7 |
| | Libertarian | Phil Gray | 8,773 | 2.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 388,427 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |