Gober looks to avoid runoff in U.S. House District 10 nomination

BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) - In November, 11-term Congressman Michael McCaul ruled out a continued run for public office, saying he was looking for a new challenge. It was an opportunity that attracted 10 Republicans interested in their party’s nomination, nine of whom were campaigning actively by Tuesday’s primary election. The heavily gerrymandered district held a 20+ point Republican margin in the last presidential election.

Republican candidate Chris Gober held the endorsements of President Donald Trump and former candidate Kara King, the Bee Cave mayor who suspended her campaign in January. Tuesday night, the voters of U.S. House District 10 appeared to follow their endorsement, handing Gober a comfortable lead throughout Tuesday evening despite the crowded field. While votes are still being tallied, Gober holds more than 50% of the vote, with more than 70% counted. Should those numbers stand, he avoids a May runoff election to confirm his candidacy in November.

Huntsville businessman Ben Bius and career public servant Rob Altman notched second- and third-place finishes, though both failed to gain even a third of Gober’s more than 30,000 votes.

Gober, a seventh-generation Texan and member of Texas A&M’s Class of 2001, spent election night at home with his family, according to his campaign manager. Gober runs what he calls the top conservative law firm in the country and formerly served as chief counsel for Elon Musk’s America PAC. He points to legal victories against former special counsel Jack Smith and the IRS — in a case involving former official Lois Lerner — as proof he can deliver results.

“President Trump needs a winner more than anything in Washington, D.C.,” Gober said.

Gober has pledged to run for the whole district, not just the Austin and Houston suburbs or Bryan-College Station, which he called “the critical anchor” of the region, highlighting Texas A&M’s RELLIS Campus as a key national defense asset.

He credited the Trump administration with driving inflation down from a 40-year high and pushing mortgage rates lower. He said he would focus on cutting taxes, lowering input costs for farmers and ranchers and protecting agricultural industries from foreign competition.

“We have to make sure that we’re protecting our ranchers, keeping the cost of beef down for the consumers, but we’re also at the same time protecting those industries from foreign interests,” he said.

A duo of Democrats will contend for a spot facing Gober on November’s general election ballot. The leading two candidates, once votes are tabulated, will compete in the May 26 runoff. Only voters who cast a ballot in Tuesday’s Democratic Primary or did not cast a vote in March are eligible for the runoff.

Texas’ 10th Congressional District spans all or parts of 13 counties between Austin and East Texas, including Brazos County, home to Texas A&M University. The district was redrawn by Texas Republicans in August 2025 as part of a broader mid-decade redistricting effort.