By Jim Ellis — Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025
House
Ex-US Rep. Mayra Flores of Texas
At this point, we could see as many as 10 ex-members embarking upon the campaign trail. Former Reps. Mayra Flores (R-TX), Jerry Carl (R-AL), Hilda Solis (D-CA), Rod Blum (R-IA), Melissa Bean (D-IL), Andy Levin (D-MI), David Trott (I-MI), Madison Cawthorn (R-NC), Chris Collins (R-NY), and Ben McAdams (D-UT) have all indicated they are either entering a 2026 congressional race or seriously considering doing so.
In south Texas, ex-Rep. Flores won a special election in 2022 but was defeated for the seat in the regular term. She subsequently lost a close comeback race in 2024. In the newly configured and more Republican 34th District, her chances against Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-McAllen) are greatly improved.
Jerry Carl served two terms from southern Alabama’s 1st District. He was denied renomination in 2024 when a court-ordered secondary redistricting map paired he and fellow Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise). Moore won the primary but is now running for the Senate, thus providing Carl the opportunity of returning to Congress. In the early going, he appears to be a heavy favorite to win the Republican nomination and the seat in November of 2026.
Hilda Solis, an elected member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, said last week that she will seek the new 38th Congressional District if voters approve the Gov. Gavin Newsom-initiated congressional gerrymander to replace the California Citizens Commission map in retaliation for the Texas redistricting effort. Voters must approve a referendum in a Nov. 4 special election in order for the map to take effect.
Supervisor Solis, also a former US Labor Secretary under President Obama, served in the House from 2001-2009. The move to return to Congress would be a curious one because most people believe a seat on the five-member LA Board of Supervisors is more powerful than being a US Representative. In fact, Supervisor Janice Hahn gave up a seat in Congress to run for the Board in 2016.
Florida’s 19th District might be hosting the most interesting open race in the country. While it is not particularly unusual to see three former office holders running in a congressional primary, the fact that all three represented constituencies in different states makes this a unique battle.
Former Rep. Collins and ex-Illinois state Sen. Jim Oberweis are announced candidates. Collins served an Upstate New York district for three terms. He was convicted of insider trading and served three months in prison until President Trump commuted his sentence at the end of 2020. Oberweis ran three times for statewide offices in Illinois and three times for a congressional seat while twice being elected to the state Senate.
The newcomer in this scenario, Ex-Rep. Cawthorn, lost his western North Carolina seat because of ill-advised public statements and actions during his lone term in the House. He is not yet a candidate in the Florida seat but confirms consideration.
With candidate filing scheduled for April 24 for the associated Aug. 18 primary election, much time remains for potential candidates to make their moves. Several Florida local and state officials are considering entering, thus giving the voters choices among officeholders who even represent constituencies within their region.
Former Iowa US Rep. Blum was first elected to his eastern Iowa district in 2014, replacing Democrat Bruce Braley who ran unsuccessfully that year for US Senate. Blum was re-elected in 2016 but lost to then-state Rep. Abby Finkenauer in 2018. Two years later, then-state Rep. Ashley Hinson returned the seat to the GOP when unseating Rep. Finkenauer. Now that Rep. Hinson is a declared US Senate candidate, Blum is announcing that he will attempt to return to the House.
In Illinois, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Schaumburg) is risking his 8th Congressional District seat to run for the Senate. A large Democratic field is forming to replace the Congressman, and the succession battle will likely be decided next March in the Democratic primary. Ten Democrats have announced, but only one, Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison, has been elected to a significant post.
This opens the door for former Rep. Bean, who represented the 8th District for three terms before losing her seat to Republican Joe Walsh in 2016. Two years later, Krishnamoorthi unseated Rep. Walsh. Bean has yet to announce but confirms she is considering the race. With such a crowded field, and a plurality format in place, her victory chances clearly would be favorable.
Former Michigan Rep. Levin was paired in 2022 with Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Birmingham) because Michigan forfeited a congressional seat in reapportionment and he lost in a decisive margin. With Rep. Stevens now running for Senate, Levin is reportedly considering a comeback. The same for retired Rep. David Trott, in terms of consideration, though he would run as an Independent instead of a Republican.
Finally, if the new court-ordered redistricting map creates a Salt Lake City-anchored Democratic seat in Utah, former one-term Rep. McAdams, who lost his seat to current Rep. Burgess Owens (R-Salt Lake City) in 2020, says he would seriously consider making a return run.