Lois Kolkhorst

Lois Kolkhorst

Republican Party

Texas State Senate District 18

Tenure

2014 - Present

Term ends

2027

Years in position

10

Predecessor

Glenn Hegar

Prior offices

Texas House of Representatives District 13

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Compensation

Base salary

$7,200/year

Per diem

$221/day

Elections and appointments

Last elected

November 8, 2022

Contact

Official website

Official Facebook

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Campaign Instagram

Personal Facebook

Lois Kolkhorst (Republican Party) is a member of the Texas State Senate, representing District 18. She assumed office on December 22, 2014. Her current term ends on January 11, 2027.

Kolkhorst (Republican Party) ran for re-election to the Texas State Senate to represent District 18. She won in the general election on November 8, 2022.

Kolkhorst is a former Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives, representing District 13 from 2001 to 2015.

Biography

Email editor@ballotpedia.org to notify us of updates to this biography.

Kolkhorst is the Owner/Operator of Kolkhorst Petroleum. She previously worked as Chief Executive Officer for the Washington County Chamber of Commerce/Economic Development Foundation of Brenham from 1995-2000, and as Director of Marketing for the Athletics Administration of Texas Christian University from 1988-1996.

She is a member of the Texas Christian University Lady Frogs Golf Team.

Committee assignments

Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.

2023-2024

Kolkhorst was assigned to the following committees:

• Business & Commerce Committee
• Committee of the Whole Senate
• Finance Committee
• Health & Human Services Committee, Chair
• Natural Resources and Economic Development Committee
• Water, Agriculture, & Rural Affairs Committee

2021-2022

Kolkhorst was assigned to the following committees:

• Finance Committee
• Health & Human Services Committee, Chair
• Water, Agriculture, & Rural Affairs Committee
• Senate Transportation Committee
• Natural Resources and Economic Development Committee

2019-2020

Kolkhorst was assigned to the following committees:

• Health & Human Services Committee, Chair
• Finance Committee
• Nominations Committee
• Senate Transportation Committee
• Water and Rural Affairs Committee

2017 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:

2015 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Kolkhorst served on the following committees:

2013-2014

In the 2013-2014 legislative session, Kolkhorst served on the following committees:

Texas committee assignments, 2013
• County Affairs
• Public Health, Chair
• Joint Committee on Oversight of Higher Ed Governance, Excellence & Transparency

2011-2012

Kolkhorst served on the following Texas House of Representatives committees:

Texas committee assignments, 2011
• Calendars
• Land & Resource Management
• Public Education, Chair

Sponsored legislation

The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.

Elections

2022

See also: Texas State Senate elections, 2022

General election

General election for Texas State Senate District 18

Incumbent Lois Kolkhorst defeated Josh Tutt in the general election for Texas State Senate District 18 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Lois Kolkhorst (R)	66.2	186,367
		Josh Tutt (D)	33.8	95,287

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 281,654
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Texas State Senate District 18

Josh Tutt advanced from the Democratic primary for Texas State Senate District 18 on March 1, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Josh Tutt	100.0	22,617

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 22,617
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Texas State Senate District 18

Incumbent Lois Kolkhorst advanced from the Republican primary for Texas State Senate District 18 on March 1, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Lois Kolkhorst	100.0	72,214

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 72,214
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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2020

See also: Texas State Senate elections, 2020

General election

General election for Texas State Senate District 18

Incumbent Lois Kolkhorst defeated Michael Antalan in the general election for Texas State Senate District 18 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Lois Kolkhorst (R)	65.8	277,872
	Submit photo	Michael Antalan (D)	34.2	144,489

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 422,361
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Texas State Senate District 18

Michael Antalan advanced from the Democratic primary for Texas State Senate District 18 on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Michael Antalan	100.0	41,182

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 41,182
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Texas State Senate District 18

Incumbent Lois Kolkhorst advanced from the Republican primary for Texas State Senate District 18 on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Lois Kolkhorst	100.0	98,215

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 98,215
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2016

See also: Texas State Senate elections, 2016

Elections for the Texas State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election was held on March 1, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was December 14, 2015.

Incumbent Lois Kolkhorst defeated Kathie Stone in the Texas State Senate District 18 general election.

Texas State Senate, District 18 General Election, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Lois Kolkhorst Incumbent	85.78%	229,051
	Libertarian	Kathie Stone	14.22%	37,965
Total Votes				267,016
Source: Texas Secretary of State

Incumbent Lois Kolkhorst ran unopposed in the Texas State Senate District 18 Republican Primary.

Texas State Senate, District 18 Republican Primary, 2016
Party		Candidate
	Republican	Lois Kolkhorst Incumbent (unopposed)

2014

State senate

See also: Texas state legislative special elections, 2014

Lois W. Kolkhorst (R) defeated Cindy Drabek (D), Christian E. Hawkins (D), Gary Gates (R) and Charles Gregory (R) off in the special election on December 6, 2014.

The seat was vacant following Glenn Hegar's (R) election as Texas Comptroller on November 4, 2014.

A special election for the position of Texas State Senate District 18 was called for December 6, 2014. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was November 19, 2014.

Texas State Senate, District 18, Special Election, 2014

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Lois W. Kolkhorst	55.8%	21,961
	Republican	Gary Gates	34.2%	13,439
	Democratic	Cindy Drabek	4.8%	1,893
	Democratic	Christian E. Hawkins	3.3%	1,280
	Republican	Charles Gregory	2%	779
Total Votes				39,352

State house

See also: Texas House of Representatives elections, 2014

Elections for all 150 seats in the Texas House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on March 4, 2014. Those candidates who did not receive 50 percent or more of the vote in their party primary on March 4 faced an additional May 27 primary runoff. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was December 9, 2013. Incumbent Lois Kolkhorst was unopposed in the Republican primary and was unchallenged in the general election.

2012

See also: Texas House of Representatives elections, 2012

Kolkhorst ran in the 2012 election for Texas House of Representatives, District 13. Kolkhorst ran unopposed in the May 29 primary election. She was unchallenged in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.

2010

See also: Texas House of Representatives elections, 2010

Kolkhorst won re-election unopposed to the 13th District seat in 2010. She had no opposition in the March 2nd primary, and she had no opposition in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.

Texas House of Representatives, District 13 2010 General election results
Candidates		Votes	Percent
Lois Kolkhorst (R)		31,741	100%

2008

On November 4, 2008, Kolkhorst won re-election to the Texas House of Representatives from Texas' 13th District. Kolkhorst ran unopposed in the general election, and she received 41,376 votes. Kolkhorst raised $253,284 for her campaign.

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Lois Kolkhorst did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

Lois Kolkhorst did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign finance summary

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Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

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Lois Kolkhorst campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2022	Texas State Senate District 18	Won general	$1,478,990	$686,367
2020	Texas State Senate District 18	Won general	$1,624,343	N/A**
2014	Texas House of Representatives, District 13	Won	$1,292,926	N/A**
2012	Texas State House, District 13	Won	$276,622	N/A**
2010	Texas State House, District 13	Won	$413,769	N/A**
2008	Texas State House, District 13	Won	$253,284	N/A**
2006	Texas State House, District 13	Won	$201,986	N/A**
2004	Texas State House, District 13	Won	$168,548	N/A**
2002	Texas State House, District 13	Won	$60,508	N/A**
2000	Texas State House, District 13	Won	$178,176	N/A**
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards and State legislative scorecards in Texas

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.

Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Texas scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.

2024

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2024, click [show].
In 2024, the Texas State Legislature was not in session.

2023

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show].

In 2023, the Texas State Legislature was in session from January 10 to May 29. Texans for Fiscal Responsibility Legislators are scored based by the organization on their votes on bills relating to "core budget and free enterprise issues." Texans Uniting for Reform & Freedom Legislators are scored based on their votes on bills relating to taxes and property rights. Texas Right to Life Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues. Texas Sierra Club Legislators are scored on their votes on environmental issues. Texas Values Action Legislators are scored on their votes on social issues. The American Conservative Union Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues. The Institute for Legislative Analysis Legislators are scored on their adherence to the limited government principles of the U.S. Constitution.

2022

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show].
In 2022, the Texas State Legislature was not in session.

2021

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show].

In 2021, the Texas State Legislature was in session from January 12 to May 31. Club for Growth Foundation Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues. Equality Texas Legislators are scored on bills related to LGBT issues. National Federation of Independent Business in Texas Legislators are scored on their votes on small business issues. Texans for Fiscal Responsibility Legislators are scored based by the organization on their votes on bills relating to "core budget and free enterprise issues." Texans Uniting for Reform & Freedom Legislators are scored based on their votes on bills relating to taxes and property rights. Texas Right to Life Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues. Texas Sierra Club Legislators are scored on their votes on environmental issues. Texas Values Action Legislators are scored on their votes on social issues. The American Conservative Union Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.

2020

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show].
In 2020, the Texas State Legislature was not in session.

2019

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show].

In 2019, the Texas State Legislature was in its 86th legislative session from January 8 through May 27. Club for Growth Foundation Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues. Empower Texans Legislators are scored based by the organization on their votes on bills relating to "core budget and free enterprise issues." Environment Texas Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental and public health issues. Equality Texas Legislators are scored on bills related to LGBT issues. Texans Uniting for Reform & Freedom Legislators are scored based on their votes on bills relating to taxes and property rights. Texas Eagle Forum: House and Senate Legislators are scored based on votes relating to conservative issues. Texas Right to Life Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues. Texas Values Action Legislators are scored on their votes on social issues. The American Conservative Union Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.

2018

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show].
In 2018, the Texas State Legislature did not hold a regular session.

2017

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show].

In 2017, the Texas State Legislature was in its 85th legislative session from January 10 through May 29. A special session was held from July 18 to August 15. Conservative Roundtable Legislators are scored on their votes for or against the organization's position and principles. Empower Texans Legislators are scored based by the organization on their votes on bills relating to "core budget and free enterprise issues." Environment Texas Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental and public health issues. Equality Texas Legislators are scored on bills related to LGBT issues. National Federation of Independent Business in Texas Legislators are scored on their votes on small business issues. Texans Uniting for Reform & Freedom Legislators are scored based on their votes on bills relating to taxes and property rights. Texans for Vaccine Choice Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization. Texas Alliance for Life Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to social issues. Texas Association of Business Legislators are scored based on their votes on bills related to businesses, taxpayers, and families. Texas Right to Life Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues. Texas Sierra Club Legislators are scored on their votes on environmental issues. Texas Values Action Legislators are scored on their votes on social issues. The American Conservative Union Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues. Young Conservatives of Texas Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.

2016

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show].
In 2016, the Texas State Legislature did not hold a regular session.

2015

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show].

In 2015, the Texas State Legislature was in its 84th legislative session from January 13 through June 1. Americans for Prosperity Texas - Texas Legislative Report Card 2015 Legislators are scored on how they voted on tax and fiscal legislation. Concerned Women for America of Texas: Legislative Scorecard for the 84th session Legislators are scored based on votes on bills relating to abortion, common core, and sex trafficking. Conservative Roundtable: Senate and House - 2015 Conservative Solutions Scorecard Legislators are scored on their votes for or against the organization's position and principles. Empower Texans - 2015 Fiscal Responsibility Index Legislators are scored based by the organization on their votes on bills relating to "core budget and free enterprise issues." Equality Texas - Equality Texas rankings for the Texas House during the 84th legislative session Legislators are scored on bills related to LGBT issues. Environment Texas - 2015 Legislative Scorecard Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental and public health issues. Heritage Alliance - 2015 Texas Conservative Report Legislators are scored based on votes on social issues, economic issues, and other issues. National Federation of Independent Business in Texas: 2015 Legislative Voting Record Legislators are scored on their votes on small business issues. Texas Association of Business: Senate and House - For the Record 2015 Legislators are scored based on their votes on bills related to businesses, taxpayers, and families. Texas Eagle Forum - 2015 Legislative Scorecard Legislators are scored based on votes relating to conservative issues. Texas Right to Life - 2015 Legislative Scores Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues. Texas Tribune Guest Column: Mark P. Jones - The 2015 Texas House, From Right to Left Mark P. Jones, chair of the Department of Political Science at Rice University, biennially ranks state representatives based on how liberal and conservative they are according to legislative history. Texans Uniting for Reform & Freedom - 2015 Session Report Card Legislators are scored based on their votes on bills relating to taxes and property rights. The American Conservative Union Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.

2014

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show].
In 2014, the Texas State Legislature did not hold a regular session.

2013

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show].

In 2013, the Texas State Legislature was in its 83rd legislative session from January 8 through May 27. Thirty minutes after the regular session ended, Governor Rick Perry called legislators back for a special session starting that evening. Two additional called sessions were held from July 1 through July 30 and July 30 through August 5. Concerned Women for America of Texas: Senate and House Legislators are scored based on votes on bills relating to abortion, common core, and sex trafficking. Conservative Roundtable - 2013 Conservative Solutions Scorecard Legislators are scored on their votes for or against the organization's position and principles. Empower Texans - 2013 Fiscal Responsibility Index Legislators are scored based by the organization on their votes on bills relating to "core budget and free enterprise issues." Environment Texas - 2013 Legislative Scorecard Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental and public health issues. Equality Texas - Equality Texas rankings for the Texas House during the 83rd regular legislative session Legislators are scored on bills related to LGBT issues. NARAL Pro-Choice Texas: 2013 Legislative Scorecard on House Bill 2 Legislators are scored based on votes for House Bill 2. National Federation of Independent Business in Texas: 2013-2014 Legislative Voting Record Legislators are scored on their votes on small business issues. Texas Association of Business: Senate and House - For the Record 2013 Legislators are scored based on their votes on bills related to businesses, taxpayers, and families. Texas Eagle Forum - 2013 Legislative Scorecard Legislators are scored based on votes relating to conservative issues. Texas League of Conservation Voters - 2013 Scorecard Legislators are scored based on votes relating to environment and conservation issues. Texas Right to Life - 2013 Legislative Scores Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues. Texas Tribune Guest Column: Mark P. Jones - The 2013 Texas House, From Right to Left Mark P. Jones, chair of the Department of Political Science at Rice University, biennially ranks state representatives based on how liberal and conservative they are according to legislative history. Texans Uniting for Reform & Freedom - 2013 Session Report Card Legislators are scored based on their votes on bills relating to taxes and property rights. The American Conservative Union - 2013 State Legislative Ratings Guide Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues. Young Conservatives of Texas - 83rd Session House Budget Scorecard Legislators are scored based on votes for Amendments 2, 12, 51, 95, and 118. Young Conservatives of Texas: House and Senate Legislators are scored based on their votes on conservative issues.

2012

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show].
In 2012, the Texas State Legislature did not hold a regular session.

2011

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2011, click [show].

In 2011, the Texas State Legislature was in its 82nd legislative session from January 11 through May 30. A special session was called for May 31 through June 29. Conservative Roundtable - 2012 Conservative Roundtable Scorecard Legislators are scored on their votes for or against the organization's position and principles. Empower Texans - 2011 Fiscal Responsibility Index Legislators are scored based by the organization on their votes on bills relating to "core budget and free enterprise issues." Environment Texas - 2011 Legislative Scorecard Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental and public health issues. Heritage Alliance - 2011 Texas Conservative Report Legislators are scored based on votes on social issues, economic issues, and other issues. Humane Society Legislative Fund - Humane 2011 Legislative Scorecard Legislators are scored on their votes on animal protection bills. Texas Eagle Forum - The 82nd Legislative Session: Lost Opportunities Legislators are scored based on votes relating to conservative issues. Texas Right to Life - 2011 Legislative Scores Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues. Texas League of Conservation Votes - 2011 Legislative Scorecard Legislators are scored based on votes relating to environment and conservation issues. Texas Tribune Guest Column: Mark P. Jones - Liberals and Conservatives in the Texas House: The 2011 Ranking Mark P. Jones, chair of the Department of Political Science at Rice University, biennially ranks state representatives based on how liberal and conservative they are according to legislative history. Texas Watch: 2011 Legislative Scorecard Legislators are scored based on consumer-related bills. Young Conservatives of Texas - Legislative Ratings for the 82nd Legislature Legislators are scored based on their votes on conservative issues.

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Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by Glenn Hegar (R)	Texas State Senate District 18 2014-Present	Succeeded by -
Preceded by -	Texas House of Representatives District 13 2001-2015	Succeeded by -

[show]

Current members of the Texas State Senate

Leadership

Senators

District 1

Bryan Hughes (R)

District 2

Bob Hall (R)

District 3

Robert Nichols (R)

District 4

Brandon Creighton (R)

District 5

Charles Schwertner (R)

District 6

Carol Alvarado (D)

District 7

Paul Bettencourt (R)

District 8

Angela Paxton (R)

District 9

Vacant

District 10

Phil King (R)

District 11

Mayes Middleton (R)

District 12

Tan Parker (R)

District 13

Borris Miles (D)

District 14

Sarah Eckhardt (D)

District 15

Molly Cook (D)

District 16

Nathan Johnson (D)

District 17

Joan Huffman (R)

District 18

Lois Kolkhorst (R)

District 19

Roland Gutierrez (D)

District 20

Juan Hinojosa (D)

District 21

Judith Zaffirini (D)

District 22

Brian Birdwell (R)

District 23

Royce West (D)

District 24

Peter Flores (R)

District 25

Donna Campbell (R)

District 26

José Menéndez (D)

District 27

Adam Hinojosa (R)

District 28

Charles Perry (R)

District 29

César Blanco (D)

District 30

Brent Hagenbuch (R)

District 31

Kevin Sparks (R)

Republican Party (19)

Democratic Party (11)

Vacancies (1)