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State Representative, 56th 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.

McLennan County: Beverly Hills, Bruceville-Eddy, Crawford, Gholson, Hewitt, Lorena, McGregor, Moody, Riesel, Ross, West and Woodway; most of Lacy-Lakeview, Robinson and Waco; part of Bellmead, Golinda and Valley Mills.

Photo of Ashley Bean Thornton
Ashley Bean ThorntonCampaign photo — Ballotpedia

Ashley Bean Thornton

Democratic

Retired educator and trainer

The gist

  • Supports universal pre-K and more school counselors and staff.
  • Opposes spending state money on school vouchers.
  • Opposes mid-decade redistricting and ending minority-party committee chairs.
  • Supports reinvesting economic growth in working families.
More about Ashley
View sources (3)
  1. Supports universal pre-K and more school counselors and staff.

    Strong Public Schools - Ashley Bean Thornton

    Campaign website · ashleybeanthornton.com

    “invest in what works: universal pre-K, strong support for teachers, enough counselors and staff”
  2. Opposes spending state money on school vouchers.

    Strong Public Schools - Ashley Bean Thornton

    Campaign website · ashleybeanthornton.com

    “they were willing to spend a billion dollars on a voucher program, even though voucher programs have not shown they serve the students”
  3. Opposes mid-decade redistricting and ending minority-party committee chairs.

    Working Together - Ashley Bean Thornton

    Campaign website · ashleybeanthornton.com

    “We should watch out for efforts like mid-decade gerrymandering and eliminating minority party chairs”
  4. Supports reinvesting economic growth in working families.

    The Texas Economy - Ashley Bean Thornton

    Campaign website · ashleybeanthornton.com

    “we need to reinvest a share of the benefits of that growth into the people who make it possible.”
Photo of Pat Curry
Pat CurryOfficial portrait — Texas House of Representatives

Pat Curry

RepublicanIncumbent

State representative; businessman

The gist

  • Supports lower appraisal caps and ending property taxes.
  • Pledges to bar upstream pollution of Waco's water supply.
  • Supports more border fencing, manpower and technology.
  • Supports higher teacher pay and help for retired educators.
  • Authored a 2025 law on removing local officials from office.
  • Supports expanding rural broadband.
More about Pat
View sources (3)
  1. Supports lower appraisal caps and ending property taxes.

    Pat's Priorities for McLennan County

    Campaign website · patcurry.com

    “lowering appraisal caps, demanding greater accountability from local appraisal boards, and developing a long-term plan to eliminate property taxes”
  2. Pledges to bar upstream pollution of Waco's water supply.

    Pat's Priorities for McLennan County

    Campaign website · patcurry.com

    “make sure dairy farmers and other upstream industries are permanently banned from doing anything to pollute our water supply”
  3. Supports more border fencing, manpower and technology.

    Pat's Priorities for McLennan County

    Campaign website · patcurry.com

    “Pat will fight for additional fencing, manpower and technology along the border”
  4. Supports higher teacher pay and help for retired educators.

    Pat's Priorities for McLennan County

    Campaign website · patcurry.com

    “Pat will fight to improve public education, increase teacher pay, and take care of our retired educators.”
  5. Authored a 2025 law on removing local officials from office.

    Legislative Accomplishments - Pat Curry

    Campaign website · patcurry.com

    “giving citizens a clear and uniform process to petition for the removal of county-level officials”
    Bills authored by Rep. Pat Curry, 89th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)

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

    “Relating to the removal from office of certain officers of political subdivisions.”
  6. Supports expanding rural broadband.

    Pat's Priorities for McLennan County

    Campaign website · patcurry.com

    “improve local quality of life for rural residents through projects like expanding rural broadband”

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; 7 issues covered in this race.