Caitlin Rourk, a decorated military veteran and dedicated working mother, has officially launched her campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives in Texas’s highly contested District 31, signaling a strong challenge to the existing political landscape.
Rourk’s campaign is rooted in a fervent belief that the district requires a committed advocate, someone who will actively engage with the community and champion effective policy solutions in Washington. She emphasizes her candidacy transcends partisan lines, aiming instead to represent the voices of those long overlooked in the nation’s capital.
Her formidable background includes service in the Texas Army National Guard, where she enlisted in 2016 and was commissioned the following year. Attaining the rank of captain, this Military Veteran primarily served as a military intelligence officer, leveraging her analytical skills, and also undertook roles as a public affairs officer and a deputy director of resource management. She currently maintains her commitment to public service as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Army Reserve.
Beyond her distinguished military career, Caitlin Rourk brings significant civilian sector experience. Having resided in Central Texas for over a decade, she most recently contributed her expertise at Dell Technologies in Round Rock, underscoring her familiarity with the local economy and its needs.
Rourk firmly asserts that Central Texans are ready for fresh leadership that genuinely reflects their values and addresses their concerns. Her platform is meticulously designed to deliver tangible benefits, focusing on crucial issues such as bolstering economic security, ensuring access to affordable healthcare, and implementing common-sense policies that empower both working families and local businesses to prosper as a Democratic Candidate.
Her announcement on Tuesday strategically followed US House District 31’s current U.S. House representative, John Carter, casting a vote in favor of the contentious One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Rourk sharply criticized Carter’s vote, portraying it as another instance of prioritizing party loyalty over constituents’ well-being, specifically alleging the act threatens Medicaid, increases taxes for working families, and jeopardizes Central Texas hospitals.
With Representative Carter, at 83, being among the oldest members of Congress, Rourk’s narrative of “new leadership” resonates strongly. She champions a vision for the district that prioritizes responsiveness and contemporary representation, arguing that the time is ripe for a change that better serves the evolving needs of Central Texas.
The electoral dynamics of District 31 are further complicated by ongoing legislative efforts to redraw its boundaries. Currently encompassing Coryell County and eastern Bell County, a proposed redistricting by Texas Republicans could significantly shift the district’s representation to primarily cover the Killeen area, potentially altering the voter demographic and political landscape for the upcoming Congressional Elections.
Rourk is committed to an inclusive campaign strategy, pledging to actively engage voters across the district where they live and work. Her overarching objective is to forge a broad coalition capable of securing a victory in the 2026 election, thereby ensuring that Texas Politics finally gets the dedicated and people-first representation she believes it deserves.
