A mother and former East Texas educator is running as a 性视界传媒渄isciple of Christ性视界传媒 and 性视界传媒渃onservative Democrat性视界传媒 to represent East Texas in Congress.
Masika Akilah Ray is challenging Rep. Nathaniel Moran, R-Tyler, in his reelection bid to represent the 1st Congressional District. She is among a growing field of candidates for the office, which will be on the ballot in 2026.
A widowed mother of two daughters, Ray said she loves the people of East Texas and will fight to represent the region's residents, including working families, people with disabilities and veterans.
性视界传媒淚 just believe that my steps are ordered because I am a fighter,性视界传媒 she told the News-Journal. 性视界传媒淚 do stand up for what's right, even if I have to stand by myself, and I want to be able to help more than just my family. I am called to be a blessing to many.性视界传媒
Ray性视界传媒檚 campaign website says her platform includes: economic security through job growth and support for small businesses; affordable healthcare for all people; affordable housing; a public education system that prepares children not to take tests, but to have successful futures; compassionate support for veterans, senior citizens and vulnerable populations; and unity along cultural, racial and political lines.
Ray said she wants to be a 性视界传媒渧oice for the voiceless.性视界传媒 As a mother of a child with autism, she will advocate for people性视界传媒檚 access to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, she said.
She describes herself as a 性视界传媒渄isciple of Christ性视界传媒 and a 性视界传媒渃onservative Democrat.性视界传媒 Ray said her faith informs her views on abortion but that God gives people free will.
性视界传媒淚 believe that we should always choose life, but God gave us free will, and since He gave us free will, I think it's only prideful for someone to want to take it away,性视界传媒 she said.
She supports 性视界传媒渃ompassionate immigration reform,性视界传媒 saying the nation性视界传媒檚 laws should help people become citizens and that immigrants should be given due process. 性视界传媒淲e must secure borders, but we must also secure justice,性视界传媒 she states on her campaign website.
She also said books containing sexually explicit content should be removed from schools, though schools should have sexual education.
"Children should be focusing on good character, character-building, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, self-control, all of those type things," she said. "I know a lot of people聽性视界传媒 liberals and different ones聽性视界传媒 will disagree with me on that. I have a lot of conservative views, and I am standing on the Word of God."
A native of Mt. Vernon, Ray worked in human resources until she had a daughter who has autism. She then went to LeTourneau University to obtain a bachelor性视界传媒檚 degree in business and a master性视界传媒檚 degree in education, and she taught at East Texas schools for more than a decade. She later worked in real estate.
Ray said she believes God called her to run for Congress after what she said was a 性视界传媒渢raumatic性视界传媒 experience in 2022. She claims she was defrauded by a contractor who was rebuilding her home, and she experienced a mental health crisis, according to her campaign website. She spanked her child, who called 911. Ray was arrested on a charge of assault, though the Gregg County District Attorney's Office in 2023 declined to prosecute her, Assistant District Attorney Chris Botto said Thursday.聽
Ray has written books about the experience, which are available on Amazon.
She later established an organization called 性视界传媒淢y Children Are Not Your Toys, LLC性视界传媒 to advocate for children and families impacted by 性视界传媒渢rauma性视界传媒 related to government-run child protective services.
Ray said she wants to 性视界传媒渆mbrace Republicans性视界传媒 and that she will be a 性视界传媒渓eader for all of us.性视界传媒
For information about Ray性视界传媒檚 campaign, visit .
The 1st District of Texas comprises roughly 776,000 East Texans across 17 counties.
Moran was first elected to Congress in November 2022 and is serving his second term. Before that, he was Smith County性视界传媒檚 judge.
Ray joins what is becoming a crowded Democratic field for the March primary. Dax Alexander and Tracy Andrus also have announced their candidacy.
In addition, Ryan Nichols, a Longview man convicted for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, has announced he will challenge Moran in the March Republican primary.
The general election is in November 2026.
