Est. 2026Clarity Over Consensus

THE STOVALL REPORT

A Disciplined Daily Brief for Serious People

Stovall Report: TX-23

A weekly civic brief for Texas’s 23rd Congressional District.

Updated June 6, 2026

Useful. Local. Verifiable.

Week of June 6, 2026

This Week in TX-23

Still no date set to fill the empty U.S. House seat

What changedMore than seven weeks after Rep. Tony Gonzales resigned, Gov. Greg Abbott has not announced a date for a special election to fill the TX-23 seat.

Why it mattersUntil the seat is filled, TX-23 has no voting member in the U.S. House — no one casting floor votes on the district's behalf.

Who's affectedAll ~800,000 district residents, and anyone with a case pending before a federal agency that was being handled by the congressional office.

What you can doCasework continues: the district office still helps residents with federal agencies under the House Clerk, and both U.S. senators serve all Texans. Contacts are in “Your Representation in Congress” below.

Your November ballot is set — on new district lines

What changedTX-23 will vote on Nov. 3 under Texas's new (2025) congressional map, which the U.S. Supreme Court allowed to take effect for 2026. Four candidates have qualified for the seat.

Why it mattersThe district's boundaries changed, so some residents are now in a different congressional district — and this is the next scheduled chance to elect a representative.

Who's affectedAll registered voters, especially residents near the district's edges whose lines may have shifted.

What you can doConfirm your registration and which district you're in at VoteTexas.gov. The registration deadline for the November election is Oct. 5, 2026.

Water rules stay tight as the region works through a long drought

What changedThe San Antonio Water System (SAWS) has held some of the strictest watering limits in its history through spring 2026, though recent rains have eased conditions somewhat.

Why it mattersWatering rules affect daily life in the district's most populous corner, while low rangeland moisture keeps pressure on ranchers across the rural counties.

Who's affectedSan Antonio–area households on the district's eastern edge, and ranchers and farmers district-wide.

What you can doCheck your current SAWS watering day before you water; rural producers can track conditions on the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Your Representation in Congress

U.S. House seat: VACANTVacant since April 14, 2026

Rep. Tony Gonzales (R) resigned effective April 14, 2026, amid a House Ethics Committee investigation.

TX-23 currently has no voting representative in the U.S. House. The district's congressional offices remain open and keep serving residents under the supervision of the Clerk of the House. By House rule, the vacant office can help with casework and explain the status of legislation, but cannot take policy positions, advocate, or cast votes.

What residents can still do

TX-23 district office (continuing under the House Clerk)
Del Rio office(830) 308-6200
Sen. John Cornyn
Washington(202) 224-2934
San Antonio(210) 224-7485
Sen. Ted Cruz
Washington(202) 224-5922
San Antonio(210) 340-2885
Contact federal agencies directly
Any federal agency (directory)usa.gov/agency-index

Next key dateNo special election has been scheduled. The next regularly scheduled U.S. House election is Nov. 3, 2026 (register by Oct. 5, 2026).

Local Items Worth Knowing

Supreme Court lets Texas use its new congressional map in 2026

The Texas Tribune · Apr 27, 2026

Included becauseThe ruling redrew TX-23's boundaries for this year's election.

Why it matters in TX-23Some residents are now in a different congressional district; it's worth checking which one is yours before November.

New bill would force states to fill U.S. House vacancies within 180 days

The Texas Tribune · Apr 30, 2026

Included becauseIt directly responds to long House vacancies, including TX-23's.

Why it matters in TX-23If it became law, districts like TX-23 wouldn't go many months without a voting representative the way this seat is now.

Border crossings in the Del Rio and Big Bend sectors remain far below their recent peak

U.S. Customs and Border Protection · 2025 data

Included becauseTX-23 covers the longest stretch of the U.S.–Mexico border of any congressional district.

Why it matters in TX-23Border activity shapes traffic at ports of entry, local law-enforcement workload, and federal resources in the district's border counties.

District Signals

U.S.–Mexico border
800+ miles

The longest stretch of the border of any U.S. House district.

Geography
W. San Antonio → Big Bend

Mostly rural Southwest Texas; includes part of San Antonio on its eastern edge.

Static baselineAs of 2026 map
Wikipedia — TX-23
Population
~806,000

District residents (under the 2022–2024 boundaries; see note).

AnnualAs of 2024
U.S. Census Bureau
Hispanic / Latino residents
~63%

A majority-Hispanic district (2022–2024 boundaries; see note).

AnnualAs of 2024
U.S. Census Bureau
U.S. House seat
Vacant

No voting representative since April 14, 2026.

CurrentAs of June 6, 2026
Clerk of the House
Next federal election
Nov 3, 2026

Register by Oct. 5, 2026 to vote.

CurrentAs of June 6, 2026
Texas Secretary of State

Population and demographic figures describe the district under its 2022–2024 boundaries. The lines changed for 2026 (see above); updated Census estimates for the new map are not yet available.

About This Page

This page is updated weekly for residents of Texas’s 23rd Congressional District. Items are included when they have a direct district connection or a clear local impact. We prioritize primary sources, local reporting, and practical usefulness over volume.

We include an item only if it answers at least one of these:

  • Does this directly mention TX-23 or a place inside it?
  • Does this affect residents’ representation, services, taxes, schools, roads, health care, land, water, energy, border crossings, farms, public safety, or elections?
  • Is there something residents can do, watch, verify, attend, or prepare for?