State Representative, District 59 - Texas Ballot Compare

Shelby Slawson

Republican Incumbent

On ballot as: SHELBY SLAWSON
Current role: State Representative, Texas House District 59 (since January 12, 2021)
Background: Bachelor's degree, University of Texas at Dallas (2000)
Law degree, University of Texas at Austin (2003)
First-generation college graduate; began at Tarleton State University (per campaign)
Attorney, entrepreneur and small business owner in her hometown of Stephenville (per official biography)
Native Texan raised in House District 59 (per campaign)
Experience: House committees: Appropriations; Human Services; two select committees (per House committee page)
Vice Chair, Texas House Republican Caucus (per campaign)
Re-elected November 2024 (80.7%)
Carried the Texas Heartbeat Act (SB 8) in the House as a freshman (per campaign)
First elected 2020; defeated Rep. J.D. Sheffield in July 2020 primary runoff
Republican primary (March 3, 2026): unopposed
Top priorities: Not found
Tidbits: Abortion: Campaign site, in a signed statement listing what she calls victories for Texans: "passage of the Texas Heartbeat Act"
Border and immigration: Campaign site, in a signed statement listing what she calls victories for Texans: "significant investments in border security"
Guns: Campaign site, in a signed statement listing what she calls victories for Texans: "defense of your Second Amendment rights and right to worship"
Public schools and vouchers: Campaign site, in a signed statement listing what she calls victories for Texans: "huge investments in public education, and empowering parents to make the decisions they know to be best for their own children"
Property taxes: Campaign site, in a signed statement listing what she calls victories for Texans: "historic property tax relief"
Endorsements: Texas Home School Coalition
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
Texas Values Action
Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT) PAC
Young Conservatives of Texas (primary)
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NFIB Texas PAC (primary)
TruckPAC (Texas Trucking Association) (primary)
Campaign website: shelbyslawson.com

Andrew Turner

Democratic

On ballot as: ANDREW TURNER
Current role: Military/veteran (per Secretary of State filing)
Background: Granbury High School graduate
Bachelor's degree (2014) and graduate degree (2020), Tarleton State University
BS in health management and MS in engineering (per campaign)
U.S. Coast Guard (2008–2013) (per Ballotpedia)
Texas Air National Guard beginning in 2013 (per Ballotpedia)
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Cancer survivor, treated at MD Anderson (per campaign)
Described as a "Blue Dog Democrat" (per campaign)
Born in Arlington, Texas
Experience: Democratic primary (March 3, 2026): won, 62.9% over Ethan Newcomer
Top priorities: "End voucher schemes draining rural schools"
"Expand Medicaid and Medicare to bring federal dollars back to Texas and keep our emergency rooms open."
"Property tax relief for working families"
"I'll push for state-level health coverage for teachers and first responders, with better plans and lower local tax burdens."
Tidbits: Abortion: Campaign site: "Being pro-life means giving women real choices and real support, not just empty rhetoric."
Border and immigration: Campaign site essay on fentanyl: "Throwing endless money at a wall or declaring an invasion does nothing to scan the cargo containers and passenger cars that are the real conduits for this poison."
Guns: Campaign site essay proposing voluntary gun safety training: "I believe in the Second Amendment. I believe in the right to self-defense. I also believe that with rights come responsibilities."
Public schools and vouchers: Campaign site: "I will fight any attempt to divert public funds from our rural schools."
Property taxes: Campaign site: "We'll create property tax exemptions for retired first responders, teachers, and veterans while eliminating exemptions for for-profit corporations."
Endorsements: None found in our research
Campaign website: turnerforstatehouse.com