Texas Ballot Compare

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Nonpartisan voter guide · Texas

Representative, District 8

Race · November 3, 2026 general election

City of El Paso
Vote for oneResearched · fact-checked5-way race
Matthew GuzmanNonpartisan
Arturo AlluinNonpartisan
Johnny J. GonzalezNonpartisan
Chris CanalesChris CanalesNonpartisan Incumbent
Laura Ochoa-ToddNonpartisan
On ballot as
Matthew Guzman
Arturo Alluin
Johnny J. Gonzalez
Chris Canales
Laura Ochoa-Todd
Current role
Executive Director, Mary L. Peyton Foundation
Restaurant owner
Retired
El Paso City Representative, District 8
Retired
Background
  • Studied psychology and business, Valparaiso University
  • Financial services, Chicago, before moving to El Paso in 2015
  • Executive director of a local nonprofit since 2018 (per candidate)
  • Born and raised in Pasadena, Texas
  • Bachelor's in international relations, Austin College, cum laude (per campaign)
  • Returned to El Paso in 2018; opened The Melting Pot and founded AO Ventures, LLC (per campaign)
  • Launched the first U.S. Sushi Itto location in 2022 (per campaign)
  • Born in Toluca, Mexico, in 1991; raised in Ciudad Juárez (per campaign)
  • Crossed the border daily to attend school in El Paso (per campaign)
  • Six associate degrees from El Paso Community College (per candidate).
  • Bowie High School graduate (1979) (per his KVIA questionnaire).
  • Born in the Segundo Barrio, where he has always lived (per his KVIA questionnaire).
  • Degree in sustainable development, Columbia University
  • Franklin High School graduate
  • Natural resources management and green-sector consulting, before returning to El Paso in 2017
  • Professional soccer referee; active in the Professional Soccer Referees Association
  • Board member, Kelly Center for Hunger Relief
  • Native El Pasoan
  • B.S. in business administration, San Francisco State University
  • El Paso High School graduate; attended El Paso Community College
  • Past jobs include administrative services supervisor, court specialist, credit counselor and Realtor (per her KVIA questionnaire)
  • Born and raised in El Paso
Experience
  • Vice president and founding member, Friends of Sunset Heights Neighborhood Association (2025) (per his KVIA questionnaire)
  • Has served on Para Niños, a steering committee seeking UNICEF Child Friendly City designation for El Paso (per candidate)
  • Former board secretary, Downtown Deck Plaza Foundation (per El Paso Matters)
  • Political newcomer (per El Paso Matters)
  • His businesses have created more than 150 jobs (per his KVIA questionnaire)
  • Consultant to companies in several industries (per his KVIA questionnaire)
  • More than 20 years in more than eight city departments (per candidate)
  • More than 15 years at UTEP and the community college (per candidate)
  • Political newcomer (per El Paso Matters)
  • Chair, Animal Shelter Advisory Committee
  • Trustee, City of El Paso Employees Retirement Trust
  • Member, City Council Financial Oversight and Audit Committee and Continuum of Care board (per candidate)
  • Elected late 2022
  • Sworn in January 2023 (first four-year term)
  • City Council staffer before his election
  • "I have never held a political office," she said in a KVIA questionnaire.
  • Political newcomer (per El Paso Matters)
Top priorities
  • New jobs: "Working with growing industries to create better jobs and prevent brain drain."
  • Modernized zoning: "Updating outdated zoning rules to help create more affordable housing and economic development."
  • Improved city services: "Streamlining permitting, improving internal processes of the city to better serve residents."
  • Increased tourism: "Working with economic drivers like UTEP and Ft. Bliss to increase entertainment and tourism revenue."
  • "I have been, and continue to be, an advocate for the Deck Plaza."
  • Campaign site sections: "Economic Development & Quality of Life", "Public Safety & Infrastructure" and "Responsible Spending & Taxes"
  • "holding the line on property taxes, supporting economic development, demanding responsible spending and accountability, improving our streets and infrastructure, and strengthening public safety"
  • "an independent outside financial and structural audit of City government"
  • "My goal is at least 90% local participation in City-funded jobs, projects, and contracts, wherever legally permitted"
  • A June 2026 campaign position paper proposes "returning El Paso to a Strong Mayor form of government".
  • "First, reduce all budgets and review both property values and reduce residential charges, especially to the poor, elderly and special exceptions voted upon."
  • "The Deck Plaza needs to be voted upon and reduced in size and cost."
  • "Opening a new city news broadcast via Internet on daily events and channels with the community."
  • "I do not support data centers in El Paso, especially hyperscale data centers built for artificial intelligence."
  • "we should continue reducing debt rather than unnecessarily taking on more"
  • "encourage more infill and redevelopment in areas where that infrastructure already exists"
  • "I have voluntarily limited individual contributions to my campaign to $1,000."
  • Opposes "El Paso’s use of Flock Safety automated license plate readers"
  • "I feel we should not entertain having future data center projects."
  • "I think the Deck Plaza project is another big waste of money."
  • Describes herself as "against wasteful spending" and running "to help populate city council with financially conservative people like myself"
  • "So, need to make officials accountable."
Tidbits
  • Property taxes and budget: In a KVIA questionnaire: "we must bring in more industrial and commercial customers so they can carry the heavier portion of the tax burden".
  • Growth and infrastructure: In a KVIA questionnaire: "I have been, and continue to be, an advocate for the Deck Plaza."
  • Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
  • Public safety: No public statement found
  • Property taxes and budget: In a KVIA questionnaire: "I would start with an independent outside financial and structural audit of City government."
  • Growth and infrastructure: In a KVIA questionnaire: "I do not support using City taxpayer dollars or other public funds to finance the Downtown I-10 Deck Plaza. I support the vision behind the project".
  • Flooding and drainage: In a KVIA questionnaire, lists among unresolved basic needs that "drainage problems continue affecting neighborhoods".
  • Public safety: Campaign site: "Arturo will advocate for stronger public safety resources, improved roads, and infrastructure investments".
  • Property taxes and budget: In a KVIA questionnaire: "First, reduce all budgets and review both property values and reduce residential charges, especially to the poor, elderly and special exceptions voted upon."
  • Growth and infrastructure: In a KVIA questionnaire: "The Deck Plaza needs to be voted upon and reduced in size and cost."
  • Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
  • Public safety: No public statement found
  • Property taxes and budget: In a KVIA questionnaire: "I ran on ending the use of non-voter-approved Certificates of Obligation" and "I have never voted for any new ones."
  • Growth and infrastructure: In a KVIA questionnaire: "I do not support data centers in El Paso". On the Deck Plaza, would not support "asking El Paso taxpayers to cover the enormous current funding gap".
  • Flooding and drainage: From his 2022 platform, reprinted on his 2026 campaign site:"Most of our streets were built without storm drainage, so they are designed to channel water from the mountain into canals and arroyos."
  • Public safety: Campaign site: "I support giving law enforcement effective tools to investigate crimes" but opposes "building a permanent surveillance network that collects information about everyone".
  • Property taxes and budget: In a KVIA questionnaire, says she would "meet with appraisers to see the comparative market analyses they are using" and "make officials accountable".
  • Growth and infrastructure: In a KVIA questionnaire: "I think the Deck Plaza project is another big waste of money." "I feel we should not entertain having future data center projects."
  • Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
  • Public safety: No public statement found
Endorsements
None found in our research
None found in our research
None found in our research
None found in our research
None found in our research
Campaign website
guzmanforelpaso.com
arturoforelpaso.com
Not found
canalesforcouncil.com
Not found

Matthew Guzman

Nonpartisan
On ballot as
Matthew Guzman
Current role
Executive Director, Mary L. Peyton Foundation
Background
  • Studied psychology and business, Valparaiso University
  • Financial services, Chicago, before moving to El Paso in 2015
  • Executive director of a local nonprofit since 2018 (per candidate)
  • Born and raised in Pasadena, Texas
Experience
  • Vice president and founding member, Friends of Sunset Heights Neighborhood Association (2025) (per his KVIA questionnaire)
  • Has served on Para Niños, a steering committee seeking UNICEF Child Friendly City designation for El Paso (per candidate)
  • Former board secretary, Downtown Deck Plaza Foundation (per El Paso Matters)
Top priorities
  • New jobs: "Working with growing industries to create better jobs and prevent brain drain."
  • Modernized zoning: "Updating outdated zoning rules to help create more affordable housing and economic development."
  • Improved city services: "Streamlining permitting, improving internal processes of the city to better serve residents."
  • Increased tourism: "Working with economic drivers like UTEP and Ft. Bliss to increase entertainment and tourism revenue."
  • "I have been, and continue to be, an advocate for the Deck Plaza."
Tidbits
  • Property taxes and budget: In a KVIA questionnaire: "we must bring in more industrial and commercial customers so they can carry the heavier portion of the tax burden".
  • Growth and infrastructure: In a KVIA questionnaire: "I have been, and continue to be, an advocate for the Deck Plaza."
  • Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
  • Public safety: No public statement found
Endorsements
None found in our research
Campaign website
guzmanforelpaso.com

Arturo Alluin

Nonpartisan
On ballot as
Arturo Alluin
Current role
Restaurant owner
Background
  • Bachelor's in international relations, Austin College, cum laude (per campaign)
  • Returned to El Paso in 2018; opened The Melting Pot and founded AO Ventures, LLC (per campaign)
  • Launched the first U.S. Sushi Itto location in 2022 (per campaign)
  • Born in Toluca, Mexico, in 1991; raised in Ciudad Juárez (per campaign)
  • Crossed the border daily to attend school in El Paso (per campaign)
Experience
  • Political newcomer (per El Paso Matters)
  • His businesses have created more than 150 jobs (per his KVIA questionnaire)
  • Consultant to companies in several industries (per his KVIA questionnaire)
Top priorities
  • Campaign site sections: "Economic Development & Quality of Life", "Public Safety & Infrastructure" and "Responsible Spending & Taxes"
  • "holding the line on property taxes, supporting economic development, demanding responsible spending and accountability, improving our streets and infrastructure, and strengthening public safety"
  • "an independent outside financial and structural audit of City government"
  • "My goal is at least 90% local participation in City-funded jobs, projects, and contracts, wherever legally permitted"
  • A June 2026 campaign position paper proposes "returning El Paso to a Strong Mayor form of government".
Tidbits
  • Property taxes and budget: In a KVIA questionnaire: "I would start with an independent outside financial and structural audit of City government."
  • Growth and infrastructure: In a KVIA questionnaire: "I do not support using City taxpayer dollars or other public funds to finance the Downtown I-10 Deck Plaza. I support the vision behind the project".
  • Flooding and drainage: In a KVIA questionnaire, lists among unresolved basic needs that "drainage problems continue affecting neighborhoods".
  • Public safety: Campaign site: "Arturo will advocate for stronger public safety resources, improved roads, and infrastructure investments".
Endorsements
None found in our research
Campaign website
arturoforelpaso.com

Johnny J. Gonzalez

Nonpartisan
On ballot as
Johnny J. Gonzalez
Current role
Retired
Background
  • Six associate degrees from El Paso Community College (per candidate).
  • Bowie High School graduate (1979) (per his KVIA questionnaire).
  • Born in the Segundo Barrio, where he has always lived (per his KVIA questionnaire).
Experience
  • More than 20 years in more than eight city departments (per candidate)
  • More than 15 years at UTEP and the community college (per candidate)
  • Political newcomer (per El Paso Matters)
Top priorities
  • "First, reduce all budgets and review both property values and reduce residential charges, especially to the poor, elderly and special exceptions voted upon."
  • "The Deck Plaza needs to be voted upon and reduced in size and cost."
  • "Opening a new city news broadcast via Internet on daily events and channels with the community."
Tidbits
  • Property taxes and budget: In a KVIA questionnaire: "First, reduce all budgets and review both property values and reduce residential charges, especially to the poor, elderly and special exceptions voted upon."
  • Growth and infrastructure: In a KVIA questionnaire: "The Deck Plaza needs to be voted upon and reduced in size and cost."
  • Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
  • Public safety: No public statement found
Endorsements
None found in our research
Campaign website
Not found
Chris Canales

Chris Canales

Nonpartisan Incumbent
On ballot as
Chris Canales
Current role
El Paso City Representative, District 8
Background
  • Degree in sustainable development, Columbia University
  • Franklin High School graduate
  • Natural resources management and green-sector consulting, before returning to El Paso in 2017
  • Professional soccer referee; active in the Professional Soccer Referees Association
  • Board member, Kelly Center for Hunger Relief
  • Native El Pasoan
Experience
  • Chair, Animal Shelter Advisory Committee
  • Trustee, City of El Paso Employees Retirement Trust
  • Member, City Council Financial Oversight and Audit Committee and Continuum of Care board (per candidate)
  • Elected late 2022
  • Sworn in January 2023 (first four-year term)
  • City Council staffer before his election
Top priorities
  • "I do not support data centers in El Paso, especially hyperscale data centers built for artificial intelligence."
  • "we should continue reducing debt rather than unnecessarily taking on more"
  • "encourage more infill and redevelopment in areas where that infrastructure already exists"
  • "I have voluntarily limited individual contributions to my campaign to $1,000."
  • Opposes "El Paso’s use of Flock Safety automated license plate readers"
Tidbits
  • Property taxes and budget: In a KVIA questionnaire: "I ran on ending the use of non-voter-approved Certificates of Obligation" and "I have never voted for any new ones."
  • Growth and infrastructure: In a KVIA questionnaire: "I do not support data centers in El Paso". On the Deck Plaza, would not support "asking El Paso taxpayers to cover the enormous current funding gap".
  • Flooding and drainage: From his 2022 platform, reprinted on his 2026 campaign site:"Most of our streets were built without storm drainage, so they are designed to channel water from the mountain into canals and arroyos."
  • Public safety: Campaign site: "I support giving law enforcement effective tools to investigate crimes" but opposes "building a permanent surveillance network that collects information about everyone".
Endorsements
None found in our research
Campaign website
canalesforcouncil.com

Laura Ochoa-Todd

Nonpartisan
On ballot as
Laura Ochoa-Todd
Current role
Retired
Background
  • B.S. in business administration, San Francisco State University
  • El Paso High School graduate; attended El Paso Community College
  • Past jobs include administrative services supervisor, court specialist, credit counselor and Realtor (per her KVIA questionnaire)
  • Born and raised in El Paso
Experience
  • "I have never held a political office," she said in a KVIA questionnaire.
  • Political newcomer (per El Paso Matters)
Top priorities
  • "I feel we should not entertain having future data center projects."
  • "I think the Deck Plaza project is another big waste of money."
  • Describes herself as "against wasteful spending" and running "to help populate city council with financially conservative people like myself"
  • "So, need to make officials accountable."
Tidbits
  • Property taxes and budget: In a KVIA questionnaire, says she would "meet with appraisers to see the comparative market analyses they are using" and "make officials accountable".
  • Growth and infrastructure: In a KVIA questionnaire: "I think the Deck Plaza project is another big waste of money." "I feel we should not entertain having future data center projects."
  • Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
  • Public safety: No public statement found
Endorsements
None found in our research
Campaign website
Not found

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