The influential conservative advocacy group Club for Growth has officially endorsed Alexandra del Moral Mealer in the Republican primary for Texas’ 9th Congressional District, spotlighting her as a “limited-government, pro-growth economic conservative” prepared to advance President Trump’s America First agenda in a newly competitive Houston-area seat. The endorsement, coming amid a heated primary showdown with state Rep. Briscoe Cain, positions Mealer as the preferred choice for donors and activists seeking to flip the district from Democratic control in 2026.

Club for Growth PAC, known for backing fiscal hawks such as Mike Lee and Jim Jordan, announced Mealer’s endorsement as part of its 2026 congressional slate. The group cited her credentials, a West Point graduate, Army combat veteran specializing in bomb disposal, Harvard JD/MBA, and former METRO Public Safety Chair, as evidence of her alignment with their priorities: strong national security, economic freedom, and limited government.

Texas’ 9th District, redrawn under 2021 maps to be more competitive and now rated R+5 by Cook PVI, includes Houston’s energy corridor, diverse suburbs, and major ports, making it a prime target for Republicans seeking to expand their delegation from 25-11 to 26-10. The seat has been held by Democrat Al Green since 2005, but Mealer’s 2022 near-upset of Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, where she lost by just two points, demonstrated her ability to appeal across party lines and raise substantial funds ($4.5 million in that cycle).

The March 3, 2026, primary is shaping up as a marquee contest: Mealer, the high-profile outsider with national backing, versus Cain, a longtime state legislator with deep local roots and a strong record defending Second Amendment rights and opposing Big Tech censorship. Club for Growth’s endorsement signals a clear preference for Mealer’s energy, economic focus, and commitment to tax cuts, deregulation, energy independence, and border security in a district central to Texas’ economy. The primary is expected to be a tight, high-stakes race between two prominent Republican figures.