Trump-backed candidate wins Texas runoff to claim GOP seat given up by Wesley Hunt
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Trump-backed Republican Jon Bonck won the GOP runoff for Texas’ 38th Congressional District on Tuesday, putting him on track to replace Rep. Wesley Hunt in the solidly Republican seat in the Houston area.
Bonck defeated West Houston Airport pilot and president Shelly deZevallos after finishing well before the March primary, but fell just short of the majority needed to win the nomination outright.
According to the results of Ballotpedia’s primary contest in early March, he led the first round with 47.7% of the vote, while deZevallos advanced to the second round with 18.6%.
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Republican Jon Bonck is seen with his family. The Houston-area finance executive is aiming to become the next member of Congress to represent Texas’ 38th Congressional District. (Jon Bonck for Congress)
Bonck will face Democrat Melissa McDonough in the November general election, but Republicans are expected to be heavily favored in Texas’ 38th Congressional District, and the Cook Political Report rates the Houston-area seat as Solid Republican.
The race became an open-seat contest after Hunt, who was first elected in 2022, opted not to seek another House term and instead launched a run for the U.S. Senate.
Representative Wesley Hunt campaigns during a primary election event on March 2, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News)
According to his LinkedIn profile, Bonck graduated from Louisiana State University in 2009 with a degree in biochemistry. He is currently a mortgage industry executive in the Houston area.
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Bonck, who has been endorsed by President Donald Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, campaigned as a Christian conservative family man and described himself on his campaign website as “not a political celebrity” but rather a “servant leader.” He also touted the support of Reps. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, and Morgan Luttrell, R-Texas, on his campaign website.
One candidate survey, Ahead of runoff elections starting earlier this month, Bonck listed affordability, immigration and public safety as the three biggest challenges facing the Houston-area district he hopes to represent.
Texas state flag (Bryn Lennon/Formula 1)
Meanwhile, he said, putting America first “means securing the border, stopping blank checks to foreign countries, reducing waste and regulations, lowering costs, and strengthening families.”
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Bonck also added that the government “needs to get out of the way so small businesses can thrive and parents can lead their children’s education and health decisions.”
