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State Representative, 54th District

Vote for
1
Term
2 years
Candidates
2
Election
Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A state representative votes on Texas laws and the state budget in the Texas House of Representatives.

Bell County: Holland, Little River-Academy, Morgan's Point Resort, Rogers, Salado and Troy; most of Killeen; part of Bartlett and Temple.

Photo of Dawn Richardson
Dawn RichardsonCampaign photo — Ballotpedia

Dawn Richardson

Democratic

Retired educator

The gist

  • Supports raising school funding to at least the national average.
  • Supports leaving abortion decisions to women and their doctors.
  • Supports expanding Medicaid and regulating insurance premiums.
  • Supports full state funding of the disabled-veteran tax exemption.
  • Supports protecting water from corporate pollution and diversion.
  • Proposes ending tax breaks for large employers without living wages.
More about Dawn
View sources (1)
  1. Supports raising school funding to at least the national average.

    Dawn Richardson for Texas Representative House District 54

    Campaign website · dawn4texas.org

    “fully fund our public schools up to the national average and beyond”
  2. Supports leaving abortion decisions to women and their doctors.

    Dawn Richardson for Texas Representative House District 54

    Campaign website · dawn4texas.org

    “That choice should be between her, her doctor, and her God.”
  3. Supports expanding Medicaid and regulating insurance premiums.

    Dawn Richardson for Texas Representative House District 54

    Campaign website · dawn4texas.org

    “We must regulate the insurance industry to reign in premiums … expand Medicaid for those who cannot get insurance through their place of work”
  4. Supports full state funding of the disabled-veteran tax exemption.

    Dawn Richardson for Texas Representative House District 54

    Campaign website · dawn4texas.org

    “Disabled Veteran property tax exemption needs to be fully funded by the state”
  5. Supports protecting water from corporate pollution and diversion.

    Dawn Richardson for Texas Representative House District 54

    Campaign website · dawn4texas.org

    “protect this precious resource from corporate pollution and diversion away from communities and farms”
  6. Proposes ending tax breaks for large employers without living wages.

    Dawn Richardson for Texas Representative House District 54

    Campaign website · dawn4texas.org

    “eliminate tax breaks on companies with 100+ employees that”
Photo of Brad Buckley
Brad BuckleyOfficial portrait — Texas House of Representatives

Brad Buckley

RepublicanIncumbent

State representative; veterinarian

The gist

  • Authored the 2025 school finance law, House Bill 2.In office
  • Authored a 2025 bill creating education savings accounts.In office
  • Authored a bill overhauling student testing and school accountability.In office
  • Authored a bill changing parole eligibility for offenders under 18.In office
  • Authored a bill aiding local governments hit by veteran exemptions.In office

In office = from the candidate's own official statements or legislation as an officeholder, not their campaign.

More about Brad
View sources (1)
  1. Authored the 2025 school finance law, House Bill 2.

    Bills authored by Rep. Brad Buckley, 89th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)

    Government record · Texas Legislature Online · capitol.texas.gov

    “Relating to public education and public school finance.”
  2. Authored a 2025 bill creating education savings accounts.

    Bills authored by Rep. Brad Buckley, 89th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)

    Government record · Texas Legislature Online · capitol.texas.gov

    “Relating to the establishment of an education savings account program.”
  3. Authored a bill overhauling student testing and school accountability.

    Bills authored by Rep. Brad Buckley, 89th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)

    Government record · Texas Legislature Online · capitol.texas.gov

    “Relating to the assessment of public school students, public school accountability”
  4. Authored a bill changing parole eligibility for offenders under 18.

    Bills authored by Rep. Brad Buckley, 89th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)

    Government record · Texas Legislature Online · capitol.texas.gov

    “the release on parole of certain inmates convicted of an offense committed when younger than 18 years of age; changing parole eligibility”
  5. Authored a bill aiding local governments hit by veteran exemptions.

    Bills authored by Rep. Brad Buckley, 89th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)

    Government record · Texas Legislature Online · capitol.texas.gov

    “state aid to certain local governments disproportionately affected by the granting of ad valorem tax relief to disabled veterans”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 6 issues covered in this race.