#GB4C
#GB4C
From South Park to the Pentagon,
GretcheN Gets Things Done
Gretchen Brown, a native Houstonian born and raised in the heart of South Park, is running to represent the newly redrawn 18th Congressional District. She brings more than policy fluency—she brings lived experience. From South Park to the Pentagon, Gretchen has walked with elders, listened to caregivers, and stood up for communities too often left in the dark. Her leadership is grounded in humility and strategy. Whether she’s shaping national defense policy or handing out battery-powered lights to seniors during hurricane season, Gretchen gets it done—with CARE.
TX Raised Her.
DC Trained Her.
Gretchen knows DC—not from the outside looking in, but from the inside getting things done! For nearly 30 years, she has served as a trusted defense and national security subject matter expert, supporting some of the Nation’s most respected defense and intelligence agencies.
She’s been part of the quiet force that kept America safe while it slept—and now she’s stepping into the spotlight to fight for the people she’s always protected. With deep experience navigating Washington’s complex institutions, she knows how to push for effective policy, secure tangible resources, and deliver real change. Gretchen's not new to this—she's true to this!
Gretchen's Service to the Nation
2017-Present
Department of Defense, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering,
Test Resource Management Center
Senior Editor, Congressional Correspondence
Gretchen currently supports the Department of Defense, where she helps shape official responses to Congress—including the House and Senate Armed Services and Appropriations Committees. Her work directly informs key legislation: the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, and the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act. These laws protect our troops, strengthen national security, and ensure everyday Americans are safe, supported, and prepared.
2016
Defense Suicide Prevention Office
Senior Policy Analyst, Defense Suicide Prevention
2012–2013
Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Systems Support Office
Senior Research and Information Specialist, Counter Threat Finance Policy
2009–2011
Defense Intelligence Agency
Senior Intelligence Editor for the Defense Intelligence Digest (excerpts routinely fused into the Presidential Daily Briefing [PDB])
2005–2008
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Senior Security Policy Analyst and Trainer, Classifying and Marking National Security Information
2004–2005
Missile Defense Agency
Project Manager, Counterintelligence Education & Awareness
2002–2004
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
Project Manager, Security & Intelligence Division Plans, Policies, and Procedures
1998-2002
Department of Defense, Office of the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation
Senior Editor, Annual Report to Congress
1995-1998
U.S. Government Accountability Office
Report Analyst, GAO "Blue Book" summaries
PLATFORM:
The 4 Cs
PLATFORM: The 4 Cs
These four words carry the weight of a district: Ca$h, Care, Crime, and Community.
Gretchen’s platform speaks to what folks live, what they fear, and what they deserve.
Economic Mobility
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Working to ensure residents have the skills and tools they need to thrive in an AI-driven economy.
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Expanding job training and trade programs connected to the area’s core industries: energy, petrochemical, health care (The Medical Center), transportation and logistics (Ship Channel).
Unlocking Capital for Small Businesses
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Helping small businesses access federal grants, low-interest loans, and the support they need to grow, recover, and hire locally.
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Prioritizing outreach and contract-readiness support for women-, minority-, and veteran-owned firms so neighborhoods across the district keep more of the wealth they create.
Federal Contracting-
Breaking down barriers to federal contracting with clear navigation, training, and matchmaking so entrepreneurs of all backgrounds can compete, win, and scale.
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Championing local subcontracting and teaming opportunities so federal dollars circulate through the district’s neighborhoods—not just national firms.
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Mental Health
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Expanding affordable, community-based, culturally responsive mental health services so help is accessible to everyone, where and when they need it.
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Increasing access to mobile mental health units, 24/7 crisis teams, and trauma-informed counseling centers across the district.
Veterans Benefits
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Working to streamline the paperwork veterans face when applying for benefits—so earned care isn’t delayed or denied.
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Fighting to restore VA funding and protect the care veterans have earned.
Maternal Mortality
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Working to bring more federal resources to the district to tackle the maternal mortality crisis head-on.
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Supporting community-based maternal health programs that center prevention, doulas, and culturally responsive care.
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Youth Intervention
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Expanding paid internships, after-school centers, and tech-skills programs that open pathways to careers—not incarceration.
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Investing in violence interruption, restorative justice, and youth mental health supports so young people get the help they need early.
Domestic & Family Violence
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Expanding survivor-centered support—including safe housing, trauma care, and legal protection—for those facing domestic and family violence.
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Supporting outreach and prevention efforts that connect survivors to help early—before crisis deepens.
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Food Deserts
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Using tax credits, grants, and low-interest loans to bring grocery stores, farmers markets, and mobile vendors into underserved neighborhoods.
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Supporting community ownership models and small local grocers so neighborhoods control their food systems and economic benefits stay local
Caregiving
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Backing the Credit for Caring Act and other measures to provide financial relief for unpaid caregivers.
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Expanding paid leave, flexible scheduling, and job protections so working caregivers don’t have to choose between a paycheck and their loved ones.
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Make a Donation
No PACs. No Corporations. Just Us.
This Campaign isn’t built for special interests—it’s built for the people of Congressional District 18—where every voice matters and every dollar fuels real change. Federal law allows individuals to contribute up to $3,500 for the March 2026 primary.
Frequency
One time
Monthly
Amount
$10
$50
$100
$200
$500
$1,000
$2,000
$3,500
Other
Donate by Check:
Make check payable to:
GRETCHEN BROWN FOR CONGRESS
Mail check to:
1129 Highway 146 #20
Kemah, TX 77565
Thank you for believing in TX-18!
This Campaign isn’t built for special interests—it’s built for the people of Congressional District 18—where every voice matters and every dollar fuels real change. Federal law allows individuals to contribute up to $3,500 for the March 2026 primary.
Frequency
One time
Monthly
Amount
$10
$50
$100
$200
$500
$1,000
$2,000
$3,500
Other
Donate by Check:
Thank you for believing in TX-18!
Make check payable to:
GRETCHEN BROWN FOR CONGRESS
Mail check to:
1129 Highway 146 #20
Kemah, TX 77565
CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Make a Donation
This Campaign isn’t built for special interests—it’s built for the people of Congressional District 18—where every voice matters and every dollar fuels real change. Federal law allows individuals to contribute up to $3,500 for the March 2026 primary.
Frequency
One time
Monthly
Amount
$10
$50
$100
$200
$500
$1,000
$2,000
$3,500
Other
To Donate by Check:
Make check payable to:
GRETCHEN BROWN FOR CONGRESS
Mail check to:
1129 Highway 146 #20
Kemah, TX 77565
Thank you for believing in TX-18!
CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA