Polk County, Texas

Texas House District 9

2 candidates are tracked for Texas House District 9, headed to a November 3, 2026 runoff: Shelley Tatum and Rocky Thigpen. Candidate information follows official Polk County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Shelley Tatum (Democratic), Rocky Thigpen (Republican) are on the November 3 ballot for Texas House District 9. Not on the November ballot: Trent Ashby, the sitting member per the 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.

Texas › Polk County › Texas House District 9

Shelley Tatum

Democratic

Top priorities

Increase state funding for public school districts and oppose the state voucher program
Protect groundwater under the rule of capture from large-scale extraction
Support state funding for rural hospitals and physicians

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Shelley Tatum is the Democratic nominee for Texas House District 9 and a retired educator with 35 years of teaching experience in Texas public schools, including 19 years in Lufkin ISD, per her campaign site. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in communications and English from Stephen F. Austin State University and is a lifelong East Texan raised in Lufkin, per her campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Rocky Thigpen

Republican

Top priorities

Deliver property tax relief for Texas homeowners and families

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Rocky Thigpen is the Republican nominee for the open Texas House District 9 seat. He is a lifelong East Texan and retired sergeant with the Texas Department of Public Safety, having patrolled all six counties of House District 9, per his campaign site. He now serves as vice president of Overseas Hardwoods Company and lives in Lufkin, per his campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Texas House District 9 in 2026?

When is the Texas House District 9 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 Polk 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 Polk 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 Polk County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Polk County ballot

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

See all 2 Polk County races

Candidate profiles

Shelley Tatum, full profile Rocky Thigpen, full profile Official Texas election office