Who is running for State Representative District 18 in 2026?
Here are the candidates for State Representative District 18 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for voters in Texas House District 18.
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 | Janis HoltRepublican | Valorie BartonDemocrat |
|---|---|---|
| Abortion | Illegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestSaid · low | Legal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)Said · low |
| Guns | No public position | All of that, plus ban assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazinesSaid · medium |
| Immigration | Secure the border first; deport those with criminal records; keep legal immigration steadyVoted · medium | No public position |
| School choice | Yes, universal school choice for every familyVoted · medium | No public position |
| Curriculum and books | Parents, including the right to remove material they object toVoted · medium | No public position |
| Property taxes | Keep cutting them and cap how fast they can riseVoted · medium | No public position |
| Policing and crime | Tougher sentences, more police funding, and stricter bailVoted · medium | No public position |
| Redistricting | State legislatures draw maps and may redraw any time, including for partisan advantageVoted · medium | No public position |
| Kids online | Ban social media accounts for minorsVoted · medium | No public position |
| School vaccines | Keep requirements with simple personal-belief exemptionsOfficial action · medium | No public position |
| DEI programs | Ban DEI offices and required training at public institutionsVoted · medium | No public position |
| Religion in schools | Support laws requiring the Ten Commandments in classrooms and optional prayer periodsVoted · medium | No public position |
| China policy | Get tougher: broad tariffs, state bans on land purchases, and forced app salesVoted · medium | No public position |
Janis Holt
Republican · IncumbentState Representative, Texas House District 18
Janis Holt is a Republican who represents Texas House District 18, first appearing on the House roster in January 20252. Her campaign site lists school choice, property taxes, a secure border and the pro-life cause as her policy areas3. She faces Democrat Valorie Barton on Nov. 3, 20261.
Where they stand 15 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
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
- Was listed as a House cosponsor of SB 2 (2025), relating to the establishment of an education savings account program. (2025) source
- Her campaign site says school choice is of paramount importance because it lets parents and students make decisions about their learning. (2023) 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
DEI programsBan DEI offices and required training at public institutionsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- 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
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 cosponsor 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 confidenceRedistrictingState 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
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
Policing and crimeTougher sentences, more police funding, and stricter bailmedium
Voted · medium confidence- 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
School vaccinesKeep requirements with simple personal-belief exemptionsmedium
Official action · medium confidence- Is listed as a House coauthor of HB 1586 (2025), relating to an exemption from required immunizations for school enrollment; she was recorded absent, excused, on the final House vote. (2025) source
Property taxesKeep cutting them and cap how fast they can risemedium
Voted · medium confidence- 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
AbortionIllegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestlow
Said · low confidence- Her campaign site says the pro-life movement defends the right to life and that human existence begins at conception. (2023) 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 House coauthor of HB 7 (2025, second called session), relating to prohibitions on the manufacture and provision of abortion-inducing drugs. (2025) source
AI data centersNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted no 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
Housing and growthNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted no 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 no 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
MarijuanaNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- 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, Guns, Energy and climate, Texas power grid, 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, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes.
Valorie Barton
DemocratSupply chain senior contracts manager
Valorie Barton is the Democratic candidate for Texas House District 18. She is a lifelong Dayton resident and former Dayton city council member who works as a supply chain senior contracts manager32. She faces Republican incumbent Janis Holt on Nov. 3, 20261.
Where they stand 2 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
GunsAll of that, plus ban assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazinesmedium
Said · medium confidence- Her campaign site says she would keep military-grade assault weapons with the armed forces and trained law enforcement, strengthen background checks, close loopholes, and require training and secure storage for certain high-capacity firearms, while respecting law-abiding gun owners. (2026) source
AbortionLegal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)low
Said · low confidence- Her campaign site says she is an advocate for women's autonomy over their bodies and choices. (2026) source
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Immigration, Energy and climate, Texas power grid, AI data centers, School choice, 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.
Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.