Lois Kolkhorst
Texas State Senator, District 18 since 2016. Ran in 12 elections between 2000 and 2022, winning 12. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2030.
Texas State Senator, District 18Born 1964
- In office
- 9 yrs
- Since 2016
- Bills became law
- 87
- 258 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 0.0%
- Chamber median 0.0%
- With party
- 100%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +8.6
- Won 2026
- Next election
- 2030
- Nov 5, 2030
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Health and Human Services · chair
- Administration
- Business and Commerce
- Civil Discourse and Freedom of Speech in Higher Education Select
- Disaster Preparedness and Flooding Select
- Finance
- General Investigating Committee on the July 2025 Flooding Events
- Legislative Budget Board
- Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
ATTORNEY GENERAL (V2811) · Became law Sep 2025
Disaster Preparedness & Relief (I0211) · Became law Sep 2025
CRIME VICTIMS (S0046) · Became law Sep 2025
City Government--General (I0060) · Became law Sep 2025
Disaster Preparedness & Relief (I0211) · Became law Sep 2025
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Kolkhorst sits in the Texas State Senate
Kolkhorst is closer to the center than 65% of the chamber's Republicans.
Closest: Mayes Middleton, Donna Campbell, Brian Birdwell
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 5:04 PM ET
With Kolkhorst’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Republicans100%
- Cosponsorships of the other party's bills31%
Black tick: the average of Republicans in the Texas State Senate.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Kolkhorst’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Republicans.
| Date | Bill | Kolkhorst | Rep. majority | Dem. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 4, 2025 | HB 18: Relating to a restriction on the acceptance of political contributions and the making of… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 18–8 |
| Sep 3, 2025 | HB 7: Relating to prohibitions on the manufacture and provision of abortion-inducing drugs,… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 17–8 |
| Sep 3, 2025 | SB 8: Relating to the designation and use of certain spaces and facilities according to sex;… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 18–8 |
| Aug 27, 2025 | HB 26: Relating to contracting with law enforcement agencies in certain counties. | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 21–5 |
| Aug 27, 2025 | HB 8: Relating to public school accountability and transparency, including the implementation of… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 21–5 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Kolkhorst was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Elections
Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin | Seat | +/− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Texas State Senate, District 18 | Won | R+8.6 | R+27.9 | −19.3 |
| 2022 | Texas State Senate, District 18 | Won | R+32.3 | R+19.2 | +13.1 |
| 2020 | Texas State Senate, District 18 | Won | R+31.6 | — | — |
| 2016 | Texas State Senate, District 18 | Won | R+71.6 | — | — |
| 2014 | Texas House of Representatives, District 13 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2014 | Texas House of Representatives, District 13 (primary) | Won | — | — | — |
| 2012 | Texas House of Representatives, District 13 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2010 | Texas House of Representatives, District 13 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2008 | Texas House of Representatives, District 13 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2006 | Texas House of Representatives, District 13 | Won | R+65.7 | — | — |
| 2004 | Texas House of Representatives, District 13 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2002 | Texas House of Representatives, District 13 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2000 | Texas House of Representatives, District 13 | Won | — | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: Texas Secretary of State (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Campaign money, 2025–26
- Raised
- $1.6M
- Spent
- $914.5K
- Cash
- $3.4M
Source: Texas Ethics Commission filings through Oct 24, 2026Updated Nov 1, 2026, 3:49 AM ET
Campaign committees
Open committees can still raise and spend money.
| Lois W. Kolkhorst State | Active |
Source: Texas Ethics Commission filings through Oct 24, 2026Updated Nov 1, 2026, 3:49 AM ET
Seats Kolkhorst has held
- Texas State Senate, District 18 · since 2016
- Texas House of Representatives, District 13 · 2000–2016
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Kolkhorst has run against
- Erica Gillum (D) · 2026 election, won
- Josh Tutt (D) · 2022 election, won
- Michael Antalan (D) · 2020 election, won
- Kathie L. Stone (L) · 2016 election, won
- Charles Stigall (L) · 2006 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: Texas Secretary of State (unofficial)
How we know Kolkhorst
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/28eb71be-bce7-4b32-908d-289ecc265c3c
- Wikidata Q16195634
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET