Texas general election: November 3, 2026
Who is running for State Representative District 16 (Texas House District 16, Texas) in 2026?
Here are the candidates for State Representative District 16 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for voters in Texas House District 16.
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 | Bobbie ClaytonDemocrat | Will MetcalfRepublican |
|---|---|---|
| Abortion | No public position | Illegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestVoted · medium |
| Guns | All of that, plus ban assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazinesSaid · medium | Remove most restrictions; bearing arms is a rightVoted · medium |
| Immigration | No public position | Secure the border first; deport those with criminal records; keep legal immigration steadyVoted · medium |
| Texas power grid | No public position | Pay for more backup natural gas plantsVoted · medium |
| 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 | Eliminate school property taxes and replace them with sales tax or state moneySaid · medium |
| Housing and growth | No public position | Allow townhomes and apartments in more places to bring prices downVoted · medium |
| Policing and crime | No public position | Tougher sentences, more police funding, and stricter bailVoted · medium |
| Election rules | No public position | Strict photo ID, paper ballots, cleaner voter rolls and fewer mail ballotsVoted · medium |
| Gender care for minors | No public position | No, ban these treatments for minorsVoted · 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 · medium |
| 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 |
| Transgender athletes | No public position | No, teams should be based on biological sex, with open or coed optionsVoted · 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 salesVoted · medium |
Bobbie Clayton
DemocratRetired civil rights investigator, U.S. Department of Education
Bobbie Clayton is the Democratic candidate for Texas House District 16 in Montgomery County. She is a lifelong Willis resident who retired from the U.S. Department of Education after 22 years as a civil rights investigator and also worked as a civil rights investigator for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice2. She faces Republican incumbent Will Metcalf on Nov. 3, 20261.
Where they stand 2 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
School choiceNo, keep public money in traditional public schoolsmedium
Said · medium confidence- Her campaign site says she will fight to rescind public grants and voucher programs that divert taxpayer money to private school attendance. (2026) source
GunsAll of that, plus ban assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazinesmedium
Said · medium confidence- Her campaign site calls for background checks, limits on weapons of war, safe storage requirements and policies that keep guns out of dangerous hands. (2026) source
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Abortion, Immigration, Energy and climate, 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.
Will Metcalf
Republican · IncumbentState Representative, Texas House District 16
Will Metcalf is a Republican who represents Texas House District 16 in Montgomery County2. He describes himself as a lifelong Montgomery County resident with a business background and a decade of legislative service3. He faces Democrat Bobbie Clayton on Nov. 3, 20261.
Where they stand 20 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
Election rulesStrict photo ID, paper ballots, cleaner voter rolls and fewer mail ballotsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on the final version of SB 1 (2021, second called session), the election law that added ID requirements for mail ballots and banned drive-through and 24-hour voting; the House adopted the conference committee report 80 to 41. (2021-08-31) source
- Is listed as a House cosponsor of SB 16 (2025), relating to requiring a person to submit proof of citizenship to register to vote. (2025) source
GunsRemove most restrictions; bearing arms is a rightmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on the final version of HB 1927 (2021), which allows adults 21 and older to carry handguns without a license; the House adopted the conference committee report 82 to 62. (2021-05-23) source
- Is listed as a House coauthor of HB 1927 (2021), relating to the carrying of a firearm by a person who is 21 years of age or older without a license. (2021) source
AbortionIllegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on HB 1280 (2021), the law banning abortion if Roe v. Wade was overturned, with an exception only to save the life or a major bodily function of the mother; it passed the House 81 to 61. (2021-05-06) source
- Voted yes on SB 8 (2021), the Texas Heartbeat Act, which bans most abortions after cardiac activity is detected and is enforced through private lawsuits; it passed the House 83 to 64. (2021-05-06) source
- Voted yes on HB 7 (2025, second called session), which restricted the making and distribution of abortion-inducing drugs and allows private lawsuits; it passed the House 82 to 48. (2025-08-28) source
- Is listed as a joint author of HB 7 (2025, second called session), relating to prohibitions on the manufacture and provision of abortion-inducing drugs. (2025) source
School choiceYes, universal school choice for every familymedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 2 (2025), which created a state education savings account program that can pay for private school; it passed the House 86 to 61. (2025-04-17) source
- Voted no on Amendment No. 2 (the Raney amendment) to HB 1 (2023, fourth called session), which removed the education savings account program from the bill; the House adopted it 84 to 63. (2023-11-17) source
- Was listed as a House cosponsor of SB 2 (2025), relating to the establishment of an education savings account program. (2025) source
Curriculum and booksParents, including the right to remove material they object tomedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 13 (2025), which set up local school library advisory councils and parental rights over school library materials; it passed the House 86 to 55. (2025-05-28) source
- Voted yes on HB 900 (2023), which regulates library materials sold to or kept in public school libraries; it passed the House 95 to 52. (2023-04-20) source
- Is listed as a House joint sponsor of SB 13 (2025), relating to school library materials and parental rights regarding library catalogs and access. (2025) source
DEI programsBan DEI offices and required training at public institutionsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 17 (2023), which banned diversity, equity and inclusion offices and related practices at public colleges; it passed the House 83 to 62. (2023-05-22) source
- Voted yes on SB 12 (2025), which set parental rights rules and prohibited diversity, equity and inclusion duties in K-12 public schools; it passed the House 88 to 47. (2025-05-25) source
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 allows schools to 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
Transgender athletesNo, teams should be based on biological sex, with open or coed optionsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on HB 25 (2021, third called session), which requires K-12 athletes to compete based on biological sex; it passed the House 76 to 54. (2021-10-14) source
- Voted yes on SB 15 (2023), which requires college athletes at public universities to compete based on biological sex; it passed the House 95 to 50. (2023-05-18) source
Gender care for minorsNo, ban these treatments for minorsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 14 (2023), which banned gender transition procedures and treatments for minors; it passed the House 87 to 56. (2023-05-15) source
- Is listed as a House joint sponsor of SB 14 (2023), relating to prohibitions on the provision to certain children of procedures and treatments for gender transitioning. (2023) source
China policyGet tougher: broad tariffs, state bans on land purchases, and forced app salesmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 17 (2025), which restricts purchases of Texas real property by certain foreign governments, entities and people, including from China; it passed the House 86 to 59. (2025-05-09) source
- Is listed as a House joint sponsor of SB 17 (2025), relating to the purchase or acquisition of an interest in real property by certain aliens or foreign entities. (2025) source
ImmigrationSecure the border first; deport those with criminal records; keep legal immigration steadymedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 4 (2023, fourth called session), which made illegal entry into Texas a state crime and allowed state judges to order people to leave the country; it passed the House 83 to 61. (2023-11-14) source
- Voted yes on SB 8 (2025), which requires certain sheriffs to enter agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; it passed the House 86 to 47. (2025-05-25) source
RedistrictingState legislatures draw maps and may redraw any time, including for partisan advantagemedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on HB 4 (2025, second called session), the mid-decade redrawing of Texas congressional districts; it passed the House 88 to 52. (2025-08-20) source
- Is listed as a House coauthor of HB 4 (2025, second called session), relating to the composition of the districts for the election of members of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas. (2025) source
Policing and crimeTougher sentences, more police funding, and stricter bailmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on HB 1900 (2021), which penalizes large cities that cut police budgets; it passed the House 90 to 49. (2021-05-07) source
- Voted yes on SB 9 (2025), which tightened bail procedures and regulated charitable bail groups; it passed the House 118 to 25. (2025-05-20) source
- Is listed as a joint author of HB 1900 (2021), relating to municipalities that adopt budgets that defund municipal police departments. (2021) source
Kids onlineBan social media accounts for minorsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on HB 186 (2025), which would have prohibited minors from using social media platforms; it passed the House but did not become law 116 to 25. (2025-04-30) source
Texas power gridPay for more backup natural gas plantsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 2627 (2023), which created state loans for new or upgraded dispatchable power plants; it passed the House 118 to 23. (2023-05-23) source
Housing and growthAllow townhomes and apartments in more places to bring prices downmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 15 (2025), which bars certain large cities from requiring large minimum lot sizes for new homes, on third reading; it passed the House 86 to 43. (2025-05-28) source
- Voted yes on the final version of SB 15 (2025), which bars certain large cities from requiring large minimum lot sizes for new homes; the House adopted the conference committee report 78 to 57. (2025-06-01) source
School vaccinesKeep requirements with simple personal-belief exemptionsmedium
Official action · medium confidenceNuclear powerBack new reactors with public funds, tax credits, and streamlined approvalsmedium
Official action · medium confidence- Is listed as a House coauthor of HB 14 (2025), relating to support for the development of the nuclear energy industry. (2025) source
Property taxesEliminate school property taxes and replace them with sales tax or state moneymedium
Said · medium confidence- His 2026 Community Impact questionnaire answer says he will keep fighting to lower appraisal caps, increase the state share of school funding, and fully eliminate school maintenance and operations (M&O) property taxes. (2026-08) source
- Voted yes on SB 10 (2025, second called session), which lowered the voter-approval tax rate limit for certain local governments; it passed the House but did not become law 78 to 52. (2025-08-25) source
MarijuanaNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted no on HB 441 (2021), which reduced the penalty for possessing small amounts of marijuana; it passed the House 88 to 40. (2021-04-30) source
- Voted no on HB 218 (2023), which reduced penalties and licensing consequences for possessing small amounts of marijuana; it passed the House 87 to 59. (2023-04-27) source
- Voted yes on HB 46 (2025), which expanded the state's 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 products containing THC; it passed the House and was later vetoed by the governor 87 to 54. (2025-05-22) source
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Energy and climate, AI data centers, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, 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.
Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.