Melissa McDonough

McDonough was born in Marietta, Ohio, and her Ballotpedia profile lists her religion as Lutheran.[1] In a 2024 Ballotpedia survey she described herself as a Tomball resident of 30 years, the wife of a cybersecurity engineer, and the mother of two sons.[1]

McDonough has worked as a realtor and brokerage owner for 30 years and describes herself as a small business owner; her campaign website cites almost 30 years as a REALTOR and 20 years as a brokerage owner and manager, and says she was Houston chapter president of the Women's Council of Realtors in 2003 and is a certified Texas arbitrator.[1][5] She says she has spent more than 20 years as a volunteer lobbyist on Capitol Hill, beginning with the National Association of Realtors on behalf of clients denied home loans because of medical debt, and later working with groups including Everytown and the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance; she says she has helped champion more than 50 bills.[1] She has been affiliated with the National Association of REALTORS and the Harris County Democratic Lawyers Association.[1]

McDonough says that during the 2022 election she worked as a presiding judge at a Harris County polling site and in ballot board, signature verification, and central count roles, and that she gave witness testimony in lawsuits brought against Harris County over the election.[1] She won the March 5, 2024 Democratic primary for the 38th District over Gion Thomas, with 82.58% of the vote according to Community Impact, then lost the November 2024 general election to incumbent Rep. Wesley Hunt, 62.7% to 37.2%.[1][3] She won the March 3, 2026 Democratic primary for the open 38th District seat with 51.6% of the vote, ahead of Marvalette Hunter and Theresa Courts.[1] During the campaign, she described her message as a "purple solution" built on checks and balances, affordability, and health care.[1] She received 47.3% of the vote to Jon Bonck's 51.5%, according to unofficial results reported by NBC News.[2]