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State Senator, District 18

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

What this office does: A state senator is one of 31 members of the Texas Senate, which writes and votes on state laws and the state budget and confirms many of the Governor's appointments.

Covers all of Aransas, Austin, Burleson, Calhoun, DeWitt, Fayette, Goliad, Gonzales, Grimes, Lavaca, Lee, Refugio, Victoria and Washington counties, and part of Fort Bend, Harris, Montgomery and Waller counties.

CandidatesCompare by issue

Erica Gillum

Democratic

Realtor

The gist

  • Pledges to fully fund neighborhood schools and raise teacher pay.
  • Pledges to secure rural water supplies and services.
  • Supports small businesses and job training for young adults.
  • Pledges to lower housing, child care and prescription costs.
  • Secured $9 million for Hempstead drainage as mayor.
More about Erica
View sources (1)

  1. Pledges to fully fund neighborhood schools and raise teacher pay.

    Erica Gillum for Texas Senate District 18

    Campaign website · Gillum for Texas · gillumfortexas.com

    “I will fight to fully fund neighborhood schools, ensure teachers are paid what they deserve”

  2. Pledges to secure rural water supplies and services.

    Erica Gillum for Texas Senate District 18

    Campaign website · Gillum for Texas · gillumfortexas.com

    “I will ensure adequate water supplies, reliable roads, and strong rural services”

  3. Supports small businesses and job training for young adults.

    Erica Gillum for Texas Senate District 18

    Campaign website · Gillum for Texas · gillumfortexas.com

    “supporting small businesses, and offering training for young adults to enter the workforce”

  4. Pledges to lower housing, child care and prescription costs.

    Erica Gillum for Texas Senate District 18

    Campaign website · Gillum for Texas · gillumfortexas.com

    “high housing costs, childcare expenses, and rising prescription drug prices. I will fight to reduce these costs”

  5. Secured $9 million for Hempstead drainage as mayor.

    Erica Gillum for Texas Senate District 18

    Campaign website · Gillum for Texas · gillumfortexas.com

    “I helped secure over $9 million for citywide drainage and infrastructure projects”
Photo of Lois W. Kolkhorst
Lois W. KolkhorstOfficial portrait — Texas Senate

Lois W. Kolkhorst

RepublicanIncumbent

Business owner · Brenham

The gist

  • Sponsored law restricting land purchases by certain foreign buyers.In office
  • Sponsored 2025 food labeling and nutrition standards law.In office
  • Sponsored law requiring health facilities to disclose costs.In office
  • Sponsored law raising penalties for some intoxication manslaughter.In office
  • Sponsored law prioritizing child-care workers' children for aid.In office
  • Sponsored law moving UH-Victoria into the Texas A&M System.In office

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

More about Lois
View sources (1)

  1. Sponsored law restricting land purchases by certain foreign buyers.

    Bills Authored / Joint Authored: Sen. Lois W. Kolkhorst, 89th Legislature Regular Session

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

    “Relating to the purchase or acquisition of an interest in real property by certain aliens or foreign entities”

  2. Sponsored 2025 food labeling and nutrition standards law.

    Bills Authored / Joint Authored: Sen. Lois W. Kolkhorst, 89th Legislature Regular Session

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

    “Relating to health and nutrition standards to promote healthy living, including requirements for food labeling”

  3. Sponsored law requiring health facilities to disclose costs.

    Bills Authored / Joint Authored: Sen. Lois W. Kolkhorst, 89th Legislature Regular Session

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

    “Relating to the disclosure of health care cost information by certain health care facilities; imposing an administrative penalty.”

  4. Sponsored law raising penalties for some intoxication manslaughter.

    Bills Authored / Joint Authored: Sen. Lois W. Kolkhorst, 89th Legislature Regular Session

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

    “Relating to enhancing the criminal penalty for the offense of intoxication manslaughter in certain circumstances.”

  5. Sponsored law prioritizing child-care workers' children for aid.

    Bills Authored / Joint Authored: Sen. Lois W. Kolkhorst, 89th Legislature Regular Session

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

    “Relating to establishing a child-care services waiting list priority for the children of certain child-care workers.”

  6. Sponsored law moving UH-Victoria into the Texas A&M System.

    Bills Authored / Joint Authored: Sen. Lois W. Kolkhorst, 89th Legislature Regular Session

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

    “Relating to the transfer of the University of Houston--Victoria to The Texas A&M University System.”

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.