Marvalette Hunter, a Democrat and longtime community advocate, officially launched her campaign to represent Texas’s 38th Congressional District, aiming to unseat Republican Congressman Wesley Hunt in the 2026 election cycle.

Hunter, a business owner and former Chief of Staff to the late Congressman and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, will appear on the ballot in the Democratic primary on March 3, 2026. If successful, she will advance to the general election on November 3, 2026.

With more than three decades of experience in public policy, economic development, housing, and finance, Hunter is positioning her campaign around issues such as access to affordable health care, job creation, support for veterans, and the protection of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Her professional background includes leading a real estate development firm focused on apartment communities, serving as Chief Development Officer for the Harris County Housing Authority, and holding a vice presidency in community lending for a Seattle-based bank that was later acquired by JPMorgan Chase.

Hunter has lived in the Northwest Houston area—now part of Texas’s 38th Congressional District—for over 20 years. She emphasizes her long-standing community involvement and ties to the district as central to her candidacy. In addition to her public service career, she is active in local organizations, including Fallbrook Church, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Jack and Jill of America, and the American Leadership Forum. She also serves on the Board of Trustees for the Rockwell Fund, a Houston-based philanthropic organization.

Hunter is married to Dr. Newal Hunter, a retired U.S. Army veteran and educator. They have two children who are currently in college.

Texas’s 38th Congressional District, created during the state’s 2020 redistricting process, covers parts of Northwest Harris County, including neighborhoods in and around Katy, Jersey Village, and parts of the Energy Corridor. The district was drawn as a Republican stronghold and is currently represented by Wesley Hunt, a first-term congressman and Army veteran who won the seat in 2022.

The race is expected to draw attention as part of broader Democratic efforts to challenge GOP-held districts in the 2026 midterm elections.