Lavaca County, Texas

Texas Senate District 18

2 candidates are tracked for Texas Senate District 18, headed to a November 3, 2026 runoff: Lois W. Kolkhorst and Erica Gillum. Candidate information follows official Lavaca County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Lois W. Kolkhorst (Republican), Erica Gillum (Democratic) are on the November 3 ballot for Texas Senate District 18; Lois W. Kolkhorst is the sitting member, per the Texas Senate' official roster. Nominees were chosen at the March 3 primary (or a May 26 runoff) or advanced unopposed; the field is the Texas Secretary of State's certified 2026 General Election candidate list. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.

What this office does

State legislator. State legislators write and vote on state laws and the state budget, which fund schools, roads, prisons, universities and health programs, and set the rules for local governments and elections. Each member represents one district and serves on committees that shape bills before a floor vote. Terms are two years in most state houses and four in most state senates.

This race. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot. The sitting officeholder, Lois W. Kolkhorst, is on the ballot.

Texas › Lavaca County › Texas Senate District 18

Lois W. Kolkhorst

Republican Incumbent

Top priorities

restricting land sales to foreign entities designated national security threats
food labeling requirements
government transparency and private property rights

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Lois W. Kolkhorst is the Republican candidate for Texas Senate District 18 and the sitting senator. She chairs the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services and the Sunset Advisory Commission, and served seven terms in the Texas House before her election to the Senate in a 2014 special election, per her campaign site. She is a small business owner and Texas Christian University graduate.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Erica Gillum

Democratic

Top priorities

Fully funding neighborhood schools and paying teachers more
Addressing rural water shortages and aging infrastructure
Creating jobs and supporting small businesses

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Erica Gillum is a Realtor and real estate investor who served on Hempstead City Council beginning in 2020 and was mayor of Hempstead from 2022 to 2024, according to her campaign site. She has more than two decades of experience in real estate, per the same source.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Texas Senate District 18 in 2026?

When is the Texas Senate District 18 election in Texas?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Texas are on the Texas election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Lavaca County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Lavaca County and state election office filings. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Texas election office, or see the full Lavaca County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Lavaca County ballot

3 tracked races in Lavaca County, Texas. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot

Texas Court of Appeals, 13th District, Place 6 See all 3 Lavaca County races

Candidate profiles

Lois W. Kolkhorst, full profile Erica Gillum, full profile Official Texas election office