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‹ U.S. House, Texas District 23

Katy Padilla Stout

Katy Padilla Stout
Democratic
Running for U.S. House, Texas District 23.

Background

Padilla Stout is a former teacher and an attorney who has represented children in foster care. She won the March 2026 Democratic primary with 52.3%. 

Occupation
Attorney; former teacher
Education
B.A., University of Texas at Austin; J.D., South Texas College of Law
Hometown
South Texas
WebsiteFacebookInstagramBallotpediaFEC filings

Positions

Economy and Cost of Living

What is the candidate's approach to inflation, prices, wages, and jobs?
Ties cost of living to the tax code; on TPR she backed a higher minimum wage and required paid parental leave. 

Taxes

What changes, if any, does the candidate support to federal income, business, or other taxes?
Opposes tax cuts for the wealthiest and wants a tax code that favors working families. 

Federal Spending and Debt

How does the candidate approach the federal budget, deficit, and national debt?
Proposes universal pre-K and paid parental leave, suggesting leave could be funded through existing unemployment insurance programs. 

Energy

What is the candidate's position on oil and gas, renewables, and energy regulation?
Says the U.S. should rejoin the Paris Climate Accord; at the debate she backed federal minimum standards for data centers. 

Social Security and Medicare

What changes, if any, does the candidate support to Social Security and Medicare?
Her site proposes expanding Medicare to cover all Americans; it does not address Social Security. 

Trade and Tariffs

What is the candidate's position on tariffs and trade agreements?
No public position found.
Searched Oct 20, 2026.

Border and Immigration

What is the candidate's position on border security, enforcement, and legal immigration?
Calls for bipartisan legislation pairing border security with humane rules and paths to citizenship; opposes the proposed Big Bend wall. 

Foreign Policy and Defense

What is the candidate's position on military spending, alliances, and current international conflicts?
No public position found.
Searched Oct 20, 2026.

Crime and Public Safety

What is the candidate's approach to crime, policing, and federal law enforcement?
On school shootings, said armed officers have not prevented them and called for mental health investment and raising the age to buy assault weapons to 21. 

Israel and Gaza

What is the candidate's position on U.S. policy toward Israel and the war in Gaza, including military aid, humanitarian aid, and the Israeli government?
No public position found.
Searched Oct 20, 2026.

Health Care

What is the candidate's position on health insurance, the ACA, Medicaid, and drug prices?
Supports expanding Medicare to all Americans; failing that, strengthening the ACA and expanding community health centers. 

Abortion

What is the candidate's position on abortion law and federal action on abortion?
Supports protecting reproductive rights and says medical decisions belong to a woman and her doctor. 

Firearms

What is the candidate's position on firearms laws and the Second Amendment?
Supports universal background checks, a bump-stock ban, red-flag laws and raising the purchase age for what she calls assault weapons to 21, plus mental-health funding. 

Elections and Voting

What is the candidate's position on federal election rules, such as proof of citizenship to register, mail voting, and voter ID?
Calls for Congress to restore and expand the Voting Rights Act, opposes voter roll purges and late changes to voting procedures, and supports a federal Election Day holiday. 

Transgender Policy

What is the candidate's position on laws related to transgender people, including medical treatment for minors, school sports, and facilities?
No public position found.
Searched Oct 20, 2026.

Religious Liberty and Faith Communities

What has the candidate said or done regarding religious freedom and specific faith communities, such as Christians, Jews, and Muslims?
No public position found.
Searched Oct 20, 2026.

Money

Finance figures are being checked against official FEC and Texas Ethics Commission filings and will appear here once verified.

Endorsements

No public endorsements found. Searched Oct 20, 2026.