Texas Ballot Compare

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Nonpartisan voter guide · Texas

State Senator, District 3

Race · November 3, 2026 general election

State of Texas
Vote for oneResearched · fact-checked
Trent AshbyTrent AshbyRepublican
Bobby TillmanBobby TillmanDemocratic
On ballot as
Trent Ashby
Bobby Tillman
Current role
Texas State Representative, District 9 (R-Lufkin); elected 2012, sworn in January 2013
Raises beef cattle in East Texas (per campaign)
Background
  • Graduate, Henderson High School
  • Bachelor's degree in agricultural economics, Texas A&M University
  • Born and raised on a dairy farm and livestock operation in Rusk County
  • Lives in Lufkin
  • His campaign describes him as "a 6th generation Texan"
  • More than 40 years in the commercial flooring business (per campaign)
  • Last 15 years raising beef cattle (per campaign)
Experience
  • Member, House Natural Resources and Public Education committees (per Texas Tribune, June 2025)
  • Senior vice president, VeraBank (per official biography)
  • President, Lufkin ISD Board of Trustees, before the Legislature (per official biography)
  • Earlier work: U.S. House legislative aide (per Ballotpedia)
  • Earlier work: president/CEO, Texas Forest Country Partnership (per Ballotpedia)
Show all 7
  • Earlier work: president, Community Title Co. (per Ballotpedia)
  • Republican primary (March 3, 2026): won, 62.3% over Rhonda Ward
  • Democratic nominee for Senate District 3
  • Democratic primary (March 3, 2026): unopposed
Top priorities
  • "My immediate focus will be water and property taxes"
  • "Protecting East Texas groundwater is essential to preserving our rural communities and way of life"
  • Property taxes: "Texans need relief that's permanent and sustainable"
  • A property tax approach "that includes appraisal reform, greater transparency, and long-term spending discipline"
  • "supporting rural public schools so teachers and students have the tools they need to succeed"
  • "I'll fight to stop school vouchers" and "raise the student allotment so every district gets its fair share"
  • "I want to eliminate property taxes on residential homes and fully fund our schools with state money instead"
  • "I support expanding Medicaid and Medicare, keeping our rural hospitals open, and growing telehealth"
  • "Real, sustained funding for our Volunteer Fire Departments"
  • Water: wants to "modernize the Rule of Capture" and "create two Water Districts covering the areas where counties can't afford their own"
  • Data centers: "five-mile buffer zones from any home or livestock operation, no tax abatements or incentives"
Tidbits
  • Abortion: No public statement found
  • Border and immigration: In a Lufkin Daily News Q&A (Feb. 2026), on his record as House District 9's representative: "I've worked to secure the border"
  • Guns: No public statement found
  • Public schools and vouchers: In a Lufkin Daily News Q&A (Feb. 2026), listed among his priorities "supporting rural public schools so teachers and students have the tools they need to succeed"
  • Property taxes: In a Lufkin Daily News Q&A (Feb. 2026): "Texans need relief that's permanent and sustainable"; calls for "appraisal reform, greater transparency, and long-term spending discipline"
  • Abortion: Campaign site: "Reproductive healthcare is a private matter between a woman and her doctor. The government has no business in that exam room."
  • Border and immigration: No public statement found
  • Guns: No public statement found
  • Public schools and vouchers: Campaign site: "I'll fight to stop school vouchers, which drain money from the public schools most of our families depend on"
  • Property taxes: Campaign site: "I want to eliminate property taxes on residential homes and fully fund our schools with state money instead."
Endorsements
  • Texas Right to Life PAC
  • Cattle Raisers PAC (Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association)
  • U.S. Rep. Jake Ellzey (listed by campaign)
  • U.S. Rep. Lance Gooden (listed by campaign)
  • Dawn Buckingham, Texas Land Commissioner (listed by campaign)
Show all 68
  • Keith Bell, State Representative HD 4 (listed by campaign)
  • David Cook, State Representative HD 96 (listed by campaign)
  • James White, Former State Representative HD 19 (listed by campaign)
  • Keith Wright, County Judge, Angelina County (listed by campaign)
  • Chris Davis, County Judge, Cherokee County (listed by campaign)
  • Jim Lovell, County Judge, Houston County (listed by campaign)
  • Ronnie Cochran, County Judge, Newton County (listed by campaign)
  • John Gothia, County Judge, Orange County (listed by campaign)
  • Sydney Murphy, County Judge, Polk County (listed by campaign)
  • Jeff Boyd, County Judge, San Augustine County (listed by campaign)
  • Danny Martin, County Judge, Trinity County (listed by campaign)
  • Tom Selman, Sheriff, Angelina County (listed by campaign)
  • Rudy Flores, Sheriff, Anderson County (listed by campaign)
  • Brent Dickson, Sheriff, Cherokee County (listed by campaign)
  • Mark Davis, Sheriff, Hardin County (listed by campaign)
  • Botie Hillhouse, Sheriff, Henderson County (listed by campaign)
  • Zak Benge, Sheriff, Houston County (listed by campaign)
  • Chuck Havard, Sheriff, Jasper County (listed by campaign)
  • Bobby Rader, Sheriff, Liberty County (listed by campaign)
  • Colton Havard, Sheriff, Newton County (listed by campaign)
  • Bobby Smith, Sheriff, Orange County (listed by campaign)
  • Byron Lyons, Sheriff, Polk County (listed by campaign)
  • George Griffith, Sheriff, Sabine County (listed by campaign)
  • Robert Cartwright, Sheriff, San Augustine County (listed by campaign)
  • Woody Wallace, Sheriff, Trinity County (listed by campaign)
  • Bryan Weatherford, Sheriff, Tyler County (listed by campaign)
  • Gerald Corbell, Sheriff, Texas Shelby County (listed by campaign)
  • Ken Pelt, County Commissioner, Hardin County (listed by campaign)
  • Scott Tuley, County Commissioner, Henderson County (listed by campaign)
  • Willie Stark, County Commissioner, Jasper County (listed by campaign)
  • Cary Erickson, County Commissioner, Jefferson County (listed by campaign)
  • Leonard "Bubba" Powell, County Commissioner, Newton County (listed by campaign)
  • Johnny Trahan, County Commissioner, Orange County (listed by campaign)
  • Tiger Worsham, Former County Commissioner, Trinity County (listed by campaign)
  • Kate Brooks Carroll, Tax Assessor-Collector, Jefferson County (listed by campaign)
  • Ron Lewis, County Official, Orange County (listed by campaign)
  • Jimmy Mize, County Official, Nacogdoches County (listed by campaign)
  • Lisa Mize, County Official, Nacogdoches County (listed by campaign)
  • Brown Claybar, County Official, Orange County (listed by campaign)
  • Jonathan Richey, District Attorney, Cherokee County (listed by campaign)
  • Hon. Clyde Herrington, Former Angelina County District Attorney (listed by campaign)
  • Judge Daryl Melton, Sabine County (listed by campaign)
  • County Officials Political Action Committee (listed by campaign)
  • Mark Hicks, Mayor, Lufkin (Angelina County) (listed by campaign)
  • Ben Middlebrook, Mayor, Rusk (Cherokee County) (listed by campaign)
  • Randy Teague, Mayor, Mabank (Henderson County) (listed by campaign)
  • Brian Crull, Mayor, Gun Barrel City (Henderson County) (listed by campaign)
  • Dustin Shelton, Mayor, Eustace (Henderson County) (listed by campaign)
  • Cy Ditzler, Mayor, Chandler (Henderson County) (listed by campaign)
  • Jeff Darby, Mayor, Jefferson County (listed by campaign)
  • David Rutledge, Mayor, Orange County (listed by campaign)
  • Judy Cochran, Mayor, Polk County (listed by campaign)
  • David Chadwick, Mayor, Shelby County (listed by campaign)
  • Jimmie R. Cooley, Former Mayor, Tyler County (listed by campaign)
  • Cathy Bennett, Former Mayor, Ivanhoe (Tyler County) (listed by campaign)
  • Danny Sullins, Police Chief, Lumberton (Hardin County) (listed by campaign)
  • Aaron Burleson, Police Chief, Sour Lake (Hardin County) (listed by campaign)
  • Steve Clark, City Manager, Lumberton (Hardin County) (listed by campaign)
  • Kimberly Aldridge, Republican Precinct Chair, Hardin County (listed by campaign)
  • Larry Woodall, Republican Precinct Chair, Hardin County (listed by campaign)
  • J. Bradley Reynolds, Republican Leader, Nacogdoches County (listed by campaign)
  • Paige Reynolds, Republican Leader, Nacogdoches County (listed by campaign)
  • Former Cherokee County Chairman John Earle, Cherokee County (listed by campaign)
  • Texas Progressive Caucus
Campaign website
trentashby.com
tillman4texas.com
Trent Ashby

Trent Ashby

Republican
On ballot as
Trent Ashby
Current role
Texas State Representative, District 9 (R-Lufkin); elected 2012, sworn in January 2013
Background
  • Graduate, Henderson High School
  • Bachelor's degree in agricultural economics, Texas A&M University
  • Born and raised on a dairy farm and livestock operation in Rusk County
  • Lives in Lufkin
Experience
  • Member, House Natural Resources and Public Education committees (per Texas Tribune, June 2025)
  • Senior vice president, VeraBank (per official biography)
  • President, Lufkin ISD Board of Trustees, before the Legislature (per official biography)
  • Earlier work: U.S. House legislative aide (per Ballotpedia)
  • Earlier work: president/CEO, Texas Forest Country Partnership (per Ballotpedia)
Show all 7
  • Earlier work: president, Community Title Co. (per Ballotpedia)
  • Republican primary (March 3, 2026): won, 62.3% over Rhonda Ward
Top priorities
  • "My immediate focus will be water and property taxes"
  • "Protecting East Texas groundwater is essential to preserving our rural communities and way of life"
  • Property taxes: "Texans need relief that's permanent and sustainable"
  • A property tax approach "that includes appraisal reform, greater transparency, and long-term spending discipline"
  • "supporting rural public schools so teachers and students have the tools they need to succeed"
Tidbits
  • Abortion: No public statement found
  • Border and immigration: In a Lufkin Daily News Q&A (Feb. 2026), on his record as House District 9's representative: "I've worked to secure the border"
  • Guns: No public statement found
  • Public schools and vouchers: In a Lufkin Daily News Q&A (Feb. 2026), listed among his priorities "supporting rural public schools so teachers and students have the tools they need to succeed"
  • Property taxes: In a Lufkin Daily News Q&A (Feb. 2026): "Texans need relief that's permanent and sustainable"; calls for "appraisal reform, greater transparency, and long-term spending discipline"
Endorsements
  • Texas Right to Life PAC
  • Cattle Raisers PAC (Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association)
  • U.S. Rep. Jake Ellzey (listed by campaign)
  • U.S. Rep. Lance Gooden (listed by campaign)
  • Dawn Buckingham, Texas Land Commissioner (listed by campaign)
Show all 68
  • Keith Bell, State Representative HD 4 (listed by campaign)
  • David Cook, State Representative HD 96 (listed by campaign)
  • James White, Former State Representative HD 19 (listed by campaign)
  • Keith Wright, County Judge, Angelina County (listed by campaign)
  • Chris Davis, County Judge, Cherokee County (listed by campaign)
  • Jim Lovell, County Judge, Houston County (listed by campaign)
  • Ronnie Cochran, County Judge, Newton County (listed by campaign)
  • John Gothia, County Judge, Orange County (listed by campaign)
  • Sydney Murphy, County Judge, Polk County (listed by campaign)
  • Jeff Boyd, County Judge, San Augustine County (listed by campaign)
  • Danny Martin, County Judge, Trinity County (listed by campaign)
  • Tom Selman, Sheriff, Angelina County (listed by campaign)
  • Rudy Flores, Sheriff, Anderson County (listed by campaign)
  • Brent Dickson, Sheriff, Cherokee County (listed by campaign)
  • Mark Davis, Sheriff, Hardin County (listed by campaign)
  • Botie Hillhouse, Sheriff, Henderson County (listed by campaign)
  • Zak Benge, Sheriff, Houston County (listed by campaign)
  • Chuck Havard, Sheriff, Jasper County (listed by campaign)
  • Bobby Rader, Sheriff, Liberty County (listed by campaign)
  • Colton Havard, Sheriff, Newton County (listed by campaign)
  • Bobby Smith, Sheriff, Orange County (listed by campaign)
  • Byron Lyons, Sheriff, Polk County (listed by campaign)
  • George Griffith, Sheriff, Sabine County (listed by campaign)
  • Robert Cartwright, Sheriff, San Augustine County (listed by campaign)
  • Woody Wallace, Sheriff, Trinity County (listed by campaign)
  • Bryan Weatherford, Sheriff, Tyler County (listed by campaign)
  • Gerald Corbell, Sheriff, Texas Shelby County (listed by campaign)
  • Ken Pelt, County Commissioner, Hardin County (listed by campaign)
  • Scott Tuley, County Commissioner, Henderson County (listed by campaign)
  • Willie Stark, County Commissioner, Jasper County (listed by campaign)
  • Cary Erickson, County Commissioner, Jefferson County (listed by campaign)
  • Leonard "Bubba" Powell, County Commissioner, Newton County (listed by campaign)
  • Johnny Trahan, County Commissioner, Orange County (listed by campaign)
  • Tiger Worsham, Former County Commissioner, Trinity County (listed by campaign)
  • Kate Brooks Carroll, Tax Assessor-Collector, Jefferson County (listed by campaign)
  • Ron Lewis, County Official, Orange County (listed by campaign)
  • Jimmy Mize, County Official, Nacogdoches County (listed by campaign)
  • Lisa Mize, County Official, Nacogdoches County (listed by campaign)
  • Brown Claybar, County Official, Orange County (listed by campaign)
  • Jonathan Richey, District Attorney, Cherokee County (listed by campaign)
  • Hon. Clyde Herrington, Former Angelina County District Attorney (listed by campaign)
  • Judge Daryl Melton, Sabine County (listed by campaign)
  • County Officials Political Action Committee (listed by campaign)
  • Mark Hicks, Mayor, Lufkin (Angelina County) (listed by campaign)
  • Ben Middlebrook, Mayor, Rusk (Cherokee County) (listed by campaign)
  • Randy Teague, Mayor, Mabank (Henderson County) (listed by campaign)
  • Brian Crull, Mayor, Gun Barrel City (Henderson County) (listed by campaign)
  • Dustin Shelton, Mayor, Eustace (Henderson County) (listed by campaign)
  • Cy Ditzler, Mayor, Chandler (Henderson County) (listed by campaign)
  • Jeff Darby, Mayor, Jefferson County (listed by campaign)
  • David Rutledge, Mayor, Orange County (listed by campaign)
  • Judy Cochran, Mayor, Polk County (listed by campaign)
  • David Chadwick, Mayor, Shelby County (listed by campaign)
  • Jimmie R. Cooley, Former Mayor, Tyler County (listed by campaign)
  • Cathy Bennett, Former Mayor, Ivanhoe (Tyler County) (listed by campaign)
  • Danny Sullins, Police Chief, Lumberton (Hardin County) (listed by campaign)
  • Aaron Burleson, Police Chief, Sour Lake (Hardin County) (listed by campaign)
  • Steve Clark, City Manager, Lumberton (Hardin County) (listed by campaign)
  • Kimberly Aldridge, Republican Precinct Chair, Hardin County (listed by campaign)
  • Larry Woodall, Republican Precinct Chair, Hardin County (listed by campaign)
  • J. Bradley Reynolds, Republican Leader, Nacogdoches County (listed by campaign)
  • Paige Reynolds, Republican Leader, Nacogdoches County (listed by campaign)
  • Former Cherokee County Chairman John Earle, Cherokee County (listed by campaign)
Campaign website
trentashby.com
Bobby Tillman

Bobby Tillman

Democratic
On ballot as
Bobby Tillman
Current role
Raises beef cattle in East Texas (per campaign)
Background
  • His campaign describes him as "a 6th generation Texan"
  • More than 40 years in the commercial flooring business (per campaign)
  • Last 15 years raising beef cattle (per campaign)
Experience
  • Democratic nominee for Senate District 3
  • Democratic primary (March 3, 2026): unopposed
Top priorities
  • "I'll fight to stop school vouchers" and "raise the student allotment so every district gets its fair share"
  • "I want to eliminate property taxes on residential homes and fully fund our schools with state money instead"
  • "I support expanding Medicaid and Medicare, keeping our rural hospitals open, and growing telehealth"
  • "Real, sustained funding for our Volunteer Fire Departments"
  • Water: wants to "modernize the Rule of Capture" and "create two Water Districts covering the areas where counties can't afford their own"
  • Data centers: "five-mile buffer zones from any home or livestock operation, no tax abatements or incentives"
Tidbits
  • Abortion: Campaign site: "Reproductive healthcare is a private matter between a woman and her doctor. The government has no business in that exam room."
  • Border and immigration: No public statement found
  • Guns: No public statement found
  • Public schools and vouchers: Campaign site: "I'll fight to stop school vouchers, which drain money from the public schools most of our families depend on"
  • Property taxes: Campaign site: "I want to eliminate property taxes on residential homes and fully fund our schools with state money instead."
Endorsements
  • Texas Progressive Caucus
Campaign website
tillman4texas.com

Open in the full comparison: Jefferson County, Anderson County, Angelina County, Cherokee County, Hardin County, Henderson County, Houston County, Jasper County, Liberty County, Nacogdoches County, Newton County, Orange County, Shelby County, Polk County, Sabine County, San Augustine County, Trinity County, Tyler County

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