The following Q&A was sent to each candidate in August 2026. Responses provided were submitted by the Sun’s press deadline in mid-October and fit within a given wordcount.
August Pfluger (Republican, incumbent)
Why did you choose to run for Congress?
August Pfluger: Serving the 11th District of Texas – the best district in the country – is the honor of a lifetime. I am humbled by the opportunity to represent our community in Washington and carry with me the priorities of the good and hardworking people of West and Central Texas. I also look forward to representing the community of Pflugerville. Texas is the best place to live, work, and raise a family, and I am committed to keeping it that way as your elected representative.
What prior experience do you have that qualifies you to serve in this capacity?
Pfluger: I served two decades in the Air Force, flying the F-22 and eventually reaching the rank of Lt. Colonel. I also served on the National Security Council, which gave me a firsthand look at how policy decisions in Washington affect people on the ground. I am the Chairman of the Republican Study Committee, leading the largest coalition of conservatives, where we have been instrumental in passing the historic tax cuts, reducing wasteful spending, and rooting out waste, fraud and abuse. My committee assignments have allowed me to give Texas-11 a strong voice for energy, agriculture, and our service members in Washington.
What part of the district are you from and how do you relate to the community?
Pfluger: I live in San Angelo with my wife Camille and our three daughters. It’s an honor to represent my hometown and raise my family in the community where I grew up. My family’s roots in Texas run deep. My four-times-great-grandfather Henry Pfluger Sr. settled in present-day Pflugerville during the 1850s. I am proud to be a seventh-generation Texan and stand up for Texas values in Washington.
What issues are you campaigning on?
Pfluger: I hear every day from Texans that affordability is their number one concern, which is why it has been my top legislative focus in 2026. Through the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, we already secured the largest tax cut in history to put more money back in the hands of hardworking Texans. I also helped eliminate over $2 trillion dollars in government waste and single-handedly delivered billions in federal dollars to local projects in Texas-11. I have also authored legislation to lower prescription drug prices. We have accomplished a lot, but there is much more to do, and I will continue to deliver.
If elected, what would you hope to accomplish with your time in office?
Pfluger: If elected for another term, I want to keep strengthening Texas-11 as the epicenter of energy, national and food security. I’ve already brought several members of President Trump’s cabinet directly into our district to see firsthand the challenges we face and work toward real solutions, and those visits have helped bring millions of dollars back to Texas-11 for local projects. I’ll keep fighting for our small businesses, energy producers, and agricultural producers, who power this district’s economy and deserve support instead of red tape out of Washington. I’ll also ensure our office keeps delivering gold star constituent services to the citizens we serve.
What makes District 11 worth fighting for in Washington, D.C.?
Pfluger: Texas-11 is the best district in Congress, and it’s not close. We’re home to the Permian Basin, one of the most productive energy basins on Earth, feeding this country’s national security and economic strength. We’re home to Goodfellow Air Force Base and the military families who serve this nation every single day. And we’re home to the farmers and ranchers who help feed America. I’ve been fighting for Texas-11 since being elected in 2021, and I’m not done yet.
What makes you stand out from other candidates?
Pfluger: I don’t just talk about results, I deliver them. As Chairman of the Republican Study Committee, I’ve led the House’s affordability agenda to bring down costs for working families this past year. I’ve sat down with members of President Trump’s cabinet, brought them into our district, and turned those relationships into millions of dollars in federal investment for local projects here at home. I serve on the Homeland Security and Energy and Commerce Committees, allowing me to advocate for energy producers, rural broadband, healthcare, border security, and much more. Texas-11 is my home and where generations of my family have lived. Our values of faith, hard work, and taking care of our neighbors are worth protecting, and I’ll never stop fighting for them in Washington.
Outside of your candidacy, what are you known for in your neighborhood or small community?
Pfluger: I am widely known in my community for my wonderful wife, Camille, and our three daughters. When I’m not in Washington or meeting with constituents, you can find me cheering on my daughters at their athletic games or other school activities. My family is the reason I’m able to represent you, and I’m grateful to them every day for their support and the sacrifices they make.
Claire Reynolds (Democrat)
Why did you choose to run for Congress?
Claire Reynolds: I’m a lawyer and a mom, so I have two primary goals. First, I want to ensure Congress fulfills its intended role: guaranteeing voters have a voice, even when that voice conflicts with the President’s. Second, I want to ensure we enforce our laws with compassion and show our children that kindness is not a weakness.
What prior experience do you have that qualifies you to serve in this capacity?
Reynolds: I’ve been an attorney for 25 years, and for the last half of my career I worked at the State Bar of Texas in the office responsible for prosecuting attorney discipline cases. I know how to hold my colleagues accountable, even when it means I won’t be liked.
What part of the district are you from, and how do you relate to the community?
Reynolds: I live in Rattan Creek, which is right next to McNeil High School and across from the Apple Campus. I’ve lived in that neighborhood for 20 years, and I love it. My kids attended Round Rock ISD schools, from kindergarten through graduation. This is the best place I’ve ever lived.
What issues are you campaigning on?
Reynolds: I have many concerns, but the main ones are: Getting big money out of politics, ensuring that working people can do more than just “get by,” and reminding the President that Congress is a coequal branch of the government with power that it can and will exercise.
If elected, what would you hope to accomplish with your time in office?
Reynolds: I truly believe that billionaires and corporate money have fully corrupted our system of government. This affects everything: what laws pass, what wars we fight, and who gets elected. If I do nothing else, I want to pass legislation that: (1) bans elected officials from owning or trading individual stocks; (2) prohibits politicians from accepting corporate donations; (3) bans partisan gerrymandering; and (4) institutes term limits for all three branches of government.
What makes District 11 worth fighting for in Washington, D.C.?
Reynolds: A lot of people don’t know that District 11 was gerrymandered in 2025. Parts of Travis and Williamson Counties got tacked onto a giant district that goes all the way from Pflugerville to Odessa. It’s a Frankenstein’s monster of a district, but I’ve come to learn that we have more in common than I thought. We all want a system of government in which everyone has a voice — not just the rich and powerful.
What makes you stand out from other candidates?
Reynolds: My opponent accepts millions of dollars each year from oil and gas companies, big tech, data centers and many other corporate interests. He also owns stock in those corporations. It’s no surprise that he writes legislation to benefit those same companies. That may be legal, but it’s not right. I do not do that, nor will I ever.
Outside of your candidacy, what are you known for in your neighborhood or small community?
Reynolds: Honestly, I’m a real big nerd with a huge collection of board games. But I also love hiking (no wall in Big Bend), meeting neighborhood dogs, and doing crossword puzzles. Honestly, though, I’m most known in my neighborhood for handing out full-size candy bars and beer (to adults) on Halloween. I have many return customers each year.