State Senator, District 18 - Texas Ballot Compare

Lois W. Kolkhorst

Republican Incumbent

On ballot as: Lois W. Kolkhorst
Current role: State Senator, District 18 (since 2014 special election)
Background: B.S., Texas Christian University
Former player, Texas Christian University women's golf team
Business owner from Brenham
Experience: Chair, Senate Health and Human Services Committee
Chair, Sunset Advisory Commission (named by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, March 2026)
Texas House member (2001–2014)
Top priorities: "secure our border, lower property taxes, support law enforcement, and protect Texas families"
Tidbits: Abortion: In a 2019 statement on her bill on infants born alive after an abortion attempt: "Texans stand united for life"
Border and immigration: Campaign site: "Join our team as we keep fighting to secure our border, lower property taxes, support law enforcement, and protect Texas families."
Guns: No public statement found
Public schools and vouchers: No public statement found
Property taxes: Campaign site: "Join our team as we keep fighting to secure our border, lower property taxes, support law enforcement, and protect Texas families."
Claims and the record
2008 ethics fine: Texas Ethics Commission fined her $1,900 over how 2005-06 campaign expenditures were reported (2008); it found no violation on some. She corrected the reports, neither admitted nor denied the findings, and said inappropriately reimbursed funds would be returned.
Endorsements: Texas Values Action
Texas Alliance for Life
Texas Right to Life PAC
Texas Home School Coalition
Houston Police Officers' Union
Campaign website: loisfortexas.com

Erica Gillum

Democratic

On ballot as: Erica Gillum
Current role: Realtor, real estate coach, investor and developer (per campaign)
Background: Graduate, Hempstead High School
Attended Prairie View A&M University
Lifelong Texan
Experience: Hempstead Mayor (elected May 2022; 2022–2024 per campaign)
Hempstead City Council (2020–2022) (per campaign)
Helped secure over $9 million for drainage and infrastructure projects (per campaign)
Top priorities: "fully fund neighborhood schools, ensure teachers are paid what they deserve"
Water: "ensure adequate water supplies, reliable roads, and strong rural services"
Economy: "creating good-paying jobs, supporting small businesses"
Cost of living: "I will fight to reduce these costs" (housing, childcare, prescription drugs)
Says taxes "should be fair, transparent, and tied to real results"
Tidbits: Abortion: No public statement found
Border and immigration: No public statement found
Guns: No public statement found
Public schools and vouchers: Campaign site: "I will fight to fully fund neighborhood schools, ensure teachers are paid what they deserve, and expand programs that prepare every child for success."
Property taxes: No public statement found
Claims and the record
Controversies: None found in the news coverage we reviewed
Endorsements: None found in our research
Campaign website: gillumfortexas.com