Texas general election: November 3, 2026
Who is running for State Representative District 58 (Texas House District 58, Texas) in 2026?
Here are the candidates for State Representative District 58 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for voters in Texas House District 58.
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 | Chris OldhamDemocrat | Helen KerwinRepublican |
|---|---|---|
| Safety net programs | Expand help for childcare, housing and paid family leaveSaid · medium | No public position |
| Abortion | Legal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)Said · low | Illegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestVoted · low |
| Guns | No public position | Remove most restrictions; bearing arms is a rightOfficial action · medium |
| Immigration | No public position | Secure the border first; deport those with criminal records; keep legal immigration steadySaid · medium |
| School choice | No, and scale back charter schools tooQuestionnaire answer · medium | Yes, universal school choice for every familySaid · high |
| Curriculum and books | Teachers and librarians, as trained professionalsQuestionnaire answer · medium | Parents, including the right to remove material they object toVoted · medium |
| Property taxes | No single answer fits; see evidence | Eliminate school property taxes and replace them with sales tax or state moneySaid · high |
| Housing and growth | No public position | Allow townhomes and apartments in more places to bring prices downVoted · low |
| 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 ballotsSaid · medium |
| Redistricting | No public position | State legislatures draw maps and may redraw any time, including for partisan advantageVoted · medium |
| School vaccines | No public position | Keep requirements with simple personal-belief exemptionsVoted · medium |
| Transgender athletes | No public position | No, teams should be based on biological sex, with open or coed optionsOfficial action · medium |
| Religion in schools | No public position | Support laws requiring the Ten Commandments in classrooms and optional prayer periodsOfficial action · medium |
| China policy | No public position | Get tougher: broad tariffs, state bans on land purchases, and forced app salesOfficial action · medium |
Chris Oldham
DemocratRetired business professional
Chris Oldham is the Democratic nominee for Texas House District 58. He is a native Texan and Mansfield resident who earned a business degree at Angelo State University and spent 30 years at Verizon before retiring in 20242. His campaign centers on public school funding, Medicaid expansion and opposing school vouchers2.
Where they stand 5 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
School choiceNo, and scale back charter schools toomedium
Questionnaire answer · medium confidence- In the 2026 ATPE candidate survey wrote that the education savings account law should be repealed and that public funds should not be used for charter, private, or church schools. (2026) source
- His campaign website says he will stand firmly against any school voucher scheme that sends rural tax dollars to private schools. (2026) source
Safety net programsExpand help for childcare, housing and paid family leavemedium
Said · medium confidence- His campaign website says he wants to expand Medicaid to keep rural hospitals open and to expand healthcare access. (2026) source
Curriculum and booksTeachers and librarians, as trained professionalsmedium
Questionnaire answer · medium confidence- In the 2026 ATPE candidate survey called petitions for book removals from school libraries ludicrous, said library councils should work with certified librarians, and said local districts should have the final say on instructional materials, chosen by professional educators. (2026) source
AbortionLegal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)low
Said · low confidence- His campaign website says medical decisions should be made by women and their doctors, not by politicians, and that he will fight to restore reproductive freedoms. (2026) source
Property taxesNo single answer fitsmedium
Questionnaire answer · medium confidence- In the 2026 ATPE candidate survey said he is very opposed to Republican proposals to eliminate the property taxes that support school districts. (2026) source
No public position found on: Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Guns, Immigration, Energy and climate, Texas power grid, AI data centers, 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.
Helen Kerwin
Republican · IncumbentTexas State Representative, District 58
Helen Kerwin is a Republican who represents Texas House District 58 and serves on the Public Education and Culture, Recreation and Tourism committees1. Her campaign site says she was Mayor of Glen Rose, the first Republican Somervell County Commissioner and a small business owner before joining the House1. It lists eliminating property taxes, term limits and border security among her priorities1.
Where they stand 15 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
Property taxesEliminate school property taxes and replace them with sales tax or state moneyhigh
Said · high confidence- Her campaign website lists eliminating property taxes among her legislative priorities. (2025) source
- Authored HB 4648 (2025), relating to the repeal of ad valorem taxes and certain state and local taxes, the enactment of a uniform state sales tax, and related school and local government finance reform. (2025) source
- Was listed as an author of HB 130 (2025, first called session), relating to the repeal of or limitations on certain state and local taxes, including school district maintenance and operations ad valorem taxes. (2025) source
School choiceYes, universal school choice for every familyhigh
Said · high confidence- Her campaign website says she will fight for the right of parents to choose the best pathway for their children, be it public, private, homeschool, or charter. (2025) source
- Voted yes on SB 2 (2025), relating to the establishment of an education savings account program; it passed the House 86 to 61. (2025-04-17) source
- Was listed as a House cosponsor of SB 2 (2025); it was enacted. (2025) source
- Was listed as a House coauthor of HB 3 (2025), relating to the establishment of an education savings account program. (2025) source
Religion in schoolsSupport laws requiring the Ten Commandments in classrooms and optional prayer periodsmedium
Official action · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 11 (2025), relating to a period of prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious text in public schools; it passed the House 88 to 48. (2025-05-23) source
- Was listed as a House cosponsor of SB 10 (2025), relating to the display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms, and of SB 11 (2025); both were enacted. (2025) source
- Was listed as a House coauthor of HB 1009 (2025), relating to the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools, and of HB 1425 (2025), relating to a period of prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious text in public schools. (2025) source
Curriculum and booksParents, including the right to remove material they object tomedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on the conference committee report for SB 13 (2025), relating to school library materials and parental rights regarding library catalogs; the House adopted it 81 to 48. (2025-05-31) source
- Was listed as a House coauthor of HB 4198 (2025), relating to the standards for a school district's library collection development policies. (2025) source
- Was listed as a House coauthor of HB 5021 (2025), relating to the standards for public school library materials. (2025) source
ImmigrationSecure the border first; deport those with criminal records; keep legal immigration steadymedium
Said · medium confidence- Her campaign website says a strong and secure Texas begins with a secure border, and lists finishing the wall and supporting Operation Lone Star. (2025) source
- Was listed as an author of HB 2390 (2025), relating to agreements between municipalities and counties and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to enforce federal immigration law. (2025) source
- Was listed as a House coauthor of HB 1303 (2025), relating to certain criminal offenses involving illegal entry into or illegal presence in this state by a person who is an alien. (2025) source
China policyGet tougher: broad tariffs, state bans on land purchases, and forced app salesmedium
Official action · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 17 (2025), relating to the purchase or acquisition of an interest in real property by certain aliens or foreign entities; it passed the House 86 to 59. (2025-05-09) source
- Was listed as a House coauthor of HB 402 (2025), relating to the purchase of or acquisition of title to real property by certain aliens or foreign entities. (2025) source
- Was listed as a House coauthor of HB 1743 (2025), relating to the holding or acquisition of an interest in real property by or on behalf of certain foreign individuals or entities. (2025) source
Transgender athletesNo, teams should be based on biological sex, with open or coed optionsmedium
Official action · medium confidence- Was listed as a House coauthor of HB 3186 (2025), relating to intercollegiate athletic competitions based on biological sex. (2025) source
Election rulesStrict photo ID, paper ballots, cleaner voter rolls and fewer mail ballotsmedium
Said · medium confidence- Her campaign website says she will support civil and criminal penalties for fraudulent voters. (2025) source
- Was listed as a House coauthor of HB 892 (2025), relating to requiring a person to submit proof of citizenship to register to vote. (2025) source
- Was 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
Policing and crimeTougher sentences, more police funding, and stricter bailmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 9 (2025), relating to the confinement or release of defendants before trial or sentencing, including the conditions of and procedures for setting bail; it passed the House 118 to 25. (2025-05-20) source
- Was listed as a House cosponsor of SB 9 (2025); it was enacted. (2025) source
- Was listed as a House coauthor of HJR 15 (2025), a proposed constitutional amendment authorizing the denial of bail under limited circumstances. (2025) 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), relating to the composition of the districts for the election of members of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas; it passed the House 88 to 52. (2025-08-20) source
- Was listed as a House coauthor of HB 4 (2025, second called session); it was enacted. (2025) source
GunsRemove most restrictions; bearing arms is a rightmedium
Official action · medium confidence- Was listed as a House coauthor of HB 3053 (2025), relating to municipal and county firearm buyback programs; it was enacted. (2025) source
- Was listed as a House coauthor of HB 1617 (2025), relating to exempting the intrastate manufacture of a firearm, a firearm accessory, or ammunition from federal regulation. (2025) source
- Was listed as a House coauthor of HB 2470 (2025), relating to the age at which a person not otherwise prohibited from possessing a firearm may carry a handgun. (2025) source
School vaccinesKeep requirements with simple personal-belief exemptionsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on HB 1586 (2025), relating to an exemption from required immunizations for school enrollment; it passed the House 83 to 54. (2025-05-14) source
- Was listed as a House coauthor of HB 1586 (2025); it was enacted. (2025) source
- Was also listed as a House coauthor of HJR 91 (2025), a proposed constitutional amendment recognizing the right of an individual to refuse a vaccination. (2025) source
AbortionIllegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestlow
Voted · low confidence- Voted yes on HB 7 (2025, second called session), which set prohibitions on making and providing abortion-inducing drugs; it passed the House 82 to 48. (2025-08-28) source
- Was listed as an author of HB 65 (2025, first called session), relating to abortion, including civil liability for distribution of abortion-inducing drugs. (2025) source
- Was listed as a House cosponsor of SB 31 (2025), relating to exceptions to otherwise prohibited abortions based on a physician's reasonable medical judgment; it was enacted. (2025) source
Housing and growthAllow townhomes and apartments in more places to bring prices downlow
Voted · low confidence- Voted yes on SB 15 (2025), relating to size and density requirements for residential lots in certain municipalities; it passed the House 86 to 43, and she voted yes on the conference report, 78 to 57. (2025-05-28) source
Term limitsNo single answer fitsmedium
Said · medium confidence- Her campaign website lists enacting term limits among her legislative priorities. (2025) source
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Energy and climate, Texas power grid, AI data centers, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Gender care for minors, 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, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, DEI programs.
Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.