Senator Lois Kolkhorst is a Republican representing Texas Senate District 18, which spans all or parts of 18 counties encompassing nearly one million constituents, including portions of the Texas coastline. A sixth-generation Texan born on November 4, 1964, in Brenham, she is married to her high school sweetheart Jim, with whom she owns small businesses including Kolkhorst Petroleum. A Brenham native raised in the district, she is recognized as a fiscal conservative and longtime advocate for private property rights, border security, and rural issues.

Notable achievements include leading Texas through the COVID-19 pandemic with initiatives improving women's health and maternal mortality rates; creating innovative funding for newborn screenings; authoring Proposition 5 to boost state parks funding; securing over $900 million for border security; and spearheading the 88th session's historic mental health investment totaling $11.6 billion. She became only the 17th woman to serve in the Texas Senate since 1845.

Education and Political Experience

Education: B.S. in Advertising/Public Relations from Texas Christian University , where she was an Academic All-American and four-year letter winner on the Lady Frogs golf team. Early career included Director of Marketing in TCU's Athletics Administration and President/CEO of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce and Brenham Economic Development Foundation.

Political Experience: Elected to Texas House of Representatives ; elected to Texas Senate District 18 in a 2014 special election . Currently chairs the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services and Special Committee on Child Protective Services . Serves on 15+ committees including Finance, Business & Commerce, Natural Resources, Transportation, Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and State Affairs. Previously resisted the Trans-Texas Corridor, advanced "food freedom" for small producers, and earned awards like the Texas Tourism Industry Association's Silver Spur and CASA recognition for child protection efforts.