Marvalette Hunter, Sylvester Turner's former staffer, announces run to unseat Wesley Hunt in Congress

Marvalette Hunter, the late former Mayor Sylvester Turner's chief of staff, announced Thursday she would be running as a Democrat in an attempt to unseat U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt from his position representing Congressional District 38, which covers northwest Houston.

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"We need a real break from the culture wars and the chaos — so we can focus on keeping a roof over our heads, getting decent health care, and making sure our kids have a real shot at college and a better life," Hunter wrote in a statement. "We need room to breathe — so we can take care of our families without constant pressure of worrying about crime or the next big storm. We need leaders in Congress who will fight for good jobs, healthy families, and safe streets — and against cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, and services for our veterans. Congress may have lost its way, but I have not.”

Hunter, in addition to her time as Turner's chief of staff, served as the Chief Development Officer for the Harris County Housing Authority and was the vice president of community lending for a Seattle-based bank that was eventually acquired by JPMorgan Chase.

She's called the district home for more than 20 years.

"This isn’t just a district to her — it’s home," a statement from her campaign read. "She has a real stake in what happens here, and she’s ready to fight for it."

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Hunt, a Republican, has represented the district since 2023. His name has been floated as a potential challenger to U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in the 2026 race for Senate.