State

State Representative, 58th 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.

All of Johnson and Somervell counties.

Candidates Compare by issue

Chris Oldham

Democratic

Retired telecommunications manager

The gist

Supports expanding Medicaid to keep rural hospitals open.
Opposes the Texas Education Freedom Accounts voucher program.
Supports funding schools by enrollment instead of attendance.
Proposes making large data centers fund their own transmission lines.
Proposes easement pay at triple market value for landowners.
Opposes replacing school property taxes with a value-added tax.
Proposes mental health care centers as an alternative to jail.

More about Chris

View sources (5)

Supports expanding Medicaid to keep rural hospitals open.
Oldham for Texas House Representative - District 58
Campaign website · oldham4texas.com
“finally expanding Medicaid to keep our rural hospitals open”
Opposes the Texas Education Freedom Accounts voucher program.
Public School Policy — Oldham for Texas
Campaign website · oldham4texas.com
“I am 100% opposed to the Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA)”
Supports funding schools by enrollment instead of attendance.
Public School Policy — Oldham for Texas
Campaign website · oldham4texas.com
“I support transitioning from Average Daily Attendance (ADA) to Enrollment-Based Funding”
Proposes making large data centers fund their own transmission lines.
Data Centers & Transmission | Oldham for Texas
Campaign website · oldham4texas.com
“drawing 75 megawatts or more must fund the transmission infrastructure their own operations require”
Proposes easement pay at triple market value for landowners.
Data Centers & Transmission | Oldham for Texas
Campaign website · oldham4texas.com
“requiring easement compensation to landowners at three times fair market value”
Opposes replacing school property taxes with a value-added tax.
Chris Oldham: The Truth About HB 130 & Property Taxes
Campaign website · oldham4texas.com
“This isn't a cut. It's an inflation multiplier.”
Proposes mental health care centers as an alternative to jail.
Healthcare Reform — Oldham for Texas
Campaign website · oldham4texas.com
“officers can drop them off at an Intermediary Care Center in minutes”

Helen Kerwin

RepublicanIncumbent

State representative; small business owner

The gist

Supports eliminating property taxes by constitutional amendment.
Supports banning taxpayer-funded lobbying.
Supports term limits for all Texas elected officials.
Supports testing for and banning PFAS chemicals.
Authored a 2025 law on background checks at children's facilities.
Supports parents choosing public, private, homeschool or charter schools.

More about Helen

View sources (2)

Supports eliminating property taxes by constitutional amendment.
Helen Kerwin for State Representative, District 58
Campaign website · helenkerwin.com
“Let YOU, the voter decide to eliminate property taxes forever with a constitutional amendment.”
Bills authored by Rep. Helen Kerwin, 89th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)
Government record · Texas Legislature Online · capitol.texas.gov
“including school district maintenance and operations ad valorem taxes, the enactment of state and local value added taxes”
Supports banning taxpayer-funded lobbying.
Helen Kerwin for State Representative, District 58
Campaign website · helenkerwin.com
“I will fight to ban taxpayer-funded lobbying once and for all.”
Supports term limits for all Texas elected officials.
Helen Kerwin for State Representative, District 58
Campaign website · helenkerwin.com
“enacting term limits for all elected officials in Texas”
Supports testing for and banning PFAS chemicals.
Helen Kerwin for State Representative, District 58
Campaign website · helenkerwin.com
“I pledge to continue my fight to test for and ultimately BAN PFAS chemicals.”
Authored a 2025 law on background checks at children's facilities.
Helen Kerwin for State Representative, District 58
Campaign website · helenkerwin.com
“requiring background checks so predators cannot work or volunteer in facilities that care for or shelter children”
Bills authored by Rep. Helen Kerwin, 89th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)
Government record · Texas Legislature Online · capitol.texas.gov
“Relating to hiring and employment requirements for persons in direct contact with children at certain facilities.”
Supports parents choosing public, private, homeschool or charter schools.
Helen Kerwin for State Representative, District 58
Campaign website · helenkerwin.com
“I will fight for the right of parents to choose the best pathway for their children, be it public, private, homeschool, or charter.”

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; 8 issues covered in this race.