Republican · Texas's 31st District · 2026
John Carter
Carter sleeps on a pullout couch in his congressional office when he is in Washington.
Biography
John Carter sleeps on a pullout couch in his congressional office when he works in Washington and heads home to Central Texas after the week's votes.1 At home, his public biography describes babysitting grandchildren and spending time with his wife, Erika, and their four children.1
Born in Houston, he graduated from Texas Tech in 1964 and earned his University of Texas law degree in 1969.2 He was one of just two lawyers in Round Rock when he began practicing there, before becoming a Williamson County district judge.1 He left the district court in 2001.2 That job gave him the nickname Judge, which followed him to Congress.1
Carter entered the House in January 2003 and now chairs its Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations subcommittee.21 After a Leander constituent's transplant coverage case, he helped write a living donor provision enacted in the 2018 VA MISSION Act.34 It allows VA coverage for a donor's operation for an eligible veteran even when the donor is not a veteran.4
His campaign emphasizes border security, national defense, veterans, lower taxes and gun rights.5 He faces Democrat Justin Early and Green candidate Greg Stoker for the 31st District, placing those federal spending and security priorities before voters.65
Record and controversies
2009 financial disclosure corrections
In November 2009, Roll Call reported that Carter acknowledged omitting approximately $300,000 in stock profits from his 2006 and 2007 House financial disclosures and another $48,000 from 2008.7 The report said he amended the 2006 and 2007 forms and posted those years' tax returns; his office said taxes on the stock gains were paid and the errors concerned his congressional disclosure forms.7