Who is running for State Representative, District 12 in 2026?
Here are the candidates for State Representative, District 12 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for voters in Texas House District 12.
Positions come only from each candidate's own votes, official actions, statements and questionnaire answers, never from party labels. Every item links to its source.
Side by side
Each candidate's position on the issues this office handles, from their own record. Details and sources are in each profile below.
| Issue | Andie HoDemocrat | Trey WhartonRepublican |
|---|---|---|
| Abortion | No public position | Illegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestSaid · low |
| Immigration | A path to citizenship for most, and more legal immigrationSaid · medium | Secure the border first; deport those with criminal records; keep legal immigration steadySaid · medium |
| Energy and climate | A gradual shift to cleaner energy, driven by incentivesSaid · medium | No public position |
| AI data centers | No public position | Welcome them, but make them pay their full share of grid and water costsVoted · low |
| School choice | No, keep public money in traditional public schoolsSaid · medium | Yes, universal school choice for every familyVoted · medium |
| Curriculum and books | No public position | Parents, including the right to remove material they object toVoted · medium |
| Property taxes | No public position | Keep cutting them and cap how fast they can riseSaid · low |
| Policing and crime | No public position | Tougher sentences, more police funding, and stricter bailVoted · medium |
| Redistricting | No public position | State legislatures draw maps and may redraw any time, including for partisan advantageVoted · medium |
| Kids online | No public position | Ban social media accounts for minorsVoted · low |
| School vaccines | No public position | Keep requirements with simple personal-belief exemptionsOfficial action · medium |
| Nuclear power | No public position | Back new reactors with public funds, tax credits, and streamlined approvalsOfficial action · medium |
| DEI programs | No public position | Ban DEI offices and required training at public institutionsVoted · medium |
| Religion in schools | No public position | Support laws requiring the Ten Commandments in classrooms and optional prayer periodsVoted · medium |
| China policy | No public position | Get tougher: broad tariffs, state bans on land purchases, and forced app salesOfficial action · medium |
Andie Ho
DemocratPrivate citizen (translator)
Andie Ho is a Democrat from Huntsville who works as a French to English translator and serves as a director of the American Translators Association2. This is her first run for public office; she was previously president and then treasurer of her local Democratic organization2. Her campaign emphasizes repealing the school voucher law, expanding Medicaid, a path to citizenship and environmental conservation6.
Where they stand 4 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
School choiceNo, keep public money in traditional public schoolsmedium
ImmigrationA path to citizenship for most, and more legal immigrationmedium
Said · medium confidence- She supports an earned path to citizenship with registration, background checks, taxes and penalties, English and civics, and waiting behind those already applying, and says enforcement must respect due process. (2026) source
- In her Ballotpedia survey she said pathways to citizenship should be created for undocumented immigrants who contribute to their communities, and that Texas should attract talent from around the world. (2026-02) source
Energy and climateA gradual shift to cleaner energy, driven by incentivesmedium
Said · medium confidence- She says Texas should move toward cleaner energy to reduce emissions and supports a carbon fee-and-dividend program to encourage the transition. (2026) source
- In her Ballotpedia survey she said Texas must transition to clean energy in a way that reduces emissions and creates jobs, and called a carbon tax with proceeds reinvested in Texas communities one tool. (2026-02) source
HealthcareNo single answer fitsmedium
Said · medium confidence
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Abortion, Guns, Texas power grid, AI data centers, Curriculum and books, Property taxes, Housing and growth, Policing and crime, Election rules, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Gender care for minors, Redistricting, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Ranked-choice voting, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, China policy.
Trey Wharton
Republican · IncumbentTexas State Representative, District 12
Trey Wharton is a Republican insurance agency owner from Huntsville who took office as the District 12 state representative in the 89th Legislature, in January 202524. He served eight years on the Huntsville school board, including three as president, and chaired the Huntsville Walker County Chamber of Commerce24. He serves on the House Corrections, Insurance and Health Care Affordability committees, and his campaign lists border control, property taxes, law enforcement and rural health among his priorities2419.
Where they stand 15 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
School choiceYes, universal school choice for every familymedium
Religion in schoolsSupport laws requiring the Ten Commandments in classrooms and optional prayer periodsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 10 (2025), which requires the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms; it passed the House 82 to 46. (2025-05-25) source
- Voted yes on SB 11 (2025), which lets school boards set a period for prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious texts; it passed the House 88 to 48. (2025-05-23) source
DEI programsBan DEI offices and required training at public institutionsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 12 (2025), which bars DEI duties in public K-12 schools and expands parental rights; it passed the House 88 to 47. (2025-05-25) source
China policyGet tougher: broad tariffs, state bans on land purchases, and forced app salesmedium
Official action · medium confidenceCurriculum and booksParents, including the right to remove material they object tomedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 13 (2025), which creates local school library advisory councils and expands parental rights over library materials; it passed the House 86 to 55. (2025-05-28) source
RedistrictingState legislatures draw maps and may redraw any time, including for partisan advantagemedium
Policing and crimeTougher sentences, more police funding, and stricter bailmedium
School vaccinesKeep requirements with simple personal-belief exemptionsmedium
ImmigrationSecure the border first; deport those with criminal records; keep legal immigration steadymedium
Said · medium confidenceNuclear powerBack new reactors with public funds, tax credits, and streamlined approvalsmedium
Official action · medium confidence- Was listed as a House coauthor of HB 14 (2025), which supports development of the nuclear energy industry. (2025) source
Kids onlineBan social media accounts for minorslow
Voted · low confidence- Voted yes on HB 186 (2025), which would have prohibited minors from using social media platforms; it passed the House 116 to 25 but did not become law. (2025-04-30) source
AI data centersWelcome them, but make them pay their full share of grid and water costslow
Voted · low confidence- Voted yes on SB 6 (2025), which set rules for how very large electricity users such as data centers connect to the grid and share related costs; it passed the House 103 to 25. (2025-05-27) source
Property taxesKeep cutting them and cap how fast they can riselow
Said · low confidence- His campaign lists keeping property taxes low and reining in bureaucracy as a priority. (2026) source
AbortionIllegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestlow
Said · low confidence- His campaign lists protecting the vulnerable unborn and elderly from harm as a priority. (2026) source
- Voted yes on HB 7 (2025), which restricts the manufacture and provision of abortion-inducing drugs; it passed the House 82 to 48. (2025-08-28) source
- Was listed as a House coauthor of HB 7 (2025). (2025) source
MarijuanaNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on HB 46 (2025), which expanded the state medical low-THC cannabis program; it passed the House 122 to 21. (2025-05-13) source
- Voted yes on SB 3 (2025), which would have banned most consumable hemp-derived THC products; it passed the House 87 to 54 and was later vetoed by the governor. (2025-05-22) source
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Guns, Energy and climate, Texas power grid, Housing and growth, Election rules, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Gender care for minors, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Ranked-choice voting, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes.
Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.