Texas poised to send record four Republican women to the House in 2024

Since Texas joined the Union it has sent only five Republican women to the House, but the 2024 cycle could raise that tally to four simultaneously, a state record. The change is driven by a new congressional map and several retirements that opened safe, red-leaning districts for Alex Mealer and Jessica Steinmann, both backed by the super-PAC Winning for Women, which contributed more than $1.2 million to their races. Incumbent Monica De La Cruz and Beth Van Duyne must still win their general-election contests, with De La Cruz defending a highly competitive seat.

Winning for Women’s president Danielle Barrow says the group is targeting non-battleground districts to help GOP women build seniority, citing past setbacks such as Mayra Flores’s brief tenure. The organization has spent over $300,000 on Steinmann and $450,000 on Mealer, part of $48 million raised for Republican women since 2020. Both candidates stress their family backgrounds and professional experience as assets, while the GOP grapples with a gender gap that sees women voters leaning Democratic. Looking ahead, Winning for Women is already planning for the post-2028 reapportionment that could add more Texas seats and further opportunities for Republican women.