Who is running for State Representative District 65 in 2026?
Here are the candidates for State Representative District 65 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for voters in Texas House District 65.
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 | Mitch LittleRepublican | Detrick DeBurrDemocrat |
|---|---|---|
| Safety net programs | No public position | Expand help for childcare, housing and paid family leaveSaid · low |
| Abortion | Illegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestSaid · low | No public position |
| Immigration | Secure the border first; deport those with criminal records; keep legal immigration steadySaid · medium | No public position |
| School choice | Yes, universal school choice for every familyVoted · medium | No, keep public money in traditional public schoolsQuestionnaire answer · low |
| Curriculum and books | Parents, including the right to remove material they object toVoted · medium | Locally elected school boardsQuestionnaire answer · medium |
| Property taxes | Keep cutting them and cap how fast they can riseSaid · low | No public position |
| Policing and crime | Tougher sentences, more police funding, and stricter bailVoted · medium | No public position |
| Election rules | Strict photo ID, paper ballots, cleaner voter rolls and fewer mail ballotsOfficial action · low | No public position |
| Gender care for minors | No, ban these treatments for minorsOfficial action · medium | No public position |
| Redistricting | State legislatures draw maps and may redraw any time, including for partisan advantageVoted · 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 salesOfficial action · medium | No public position |
Mitch Little
Republican · IncumbentTexas State Representative, District 65
Mitch Little is a Republican business trial lawyer who has represented Texas House District 65 in southern Denton County since 2025, after defeating incumbent Kronda Thimesch in the 2024 primary31. He was one of the attorneys who defended Attorney General Ken Paxton in the 2023 impeachment trial before the Texas Senate, which ended in acquittal on all charges31. He serves on the Transportation and Criminal Jurisprudence committees, and his 2024 campaign statement listed small government, low taxes, border security, empowering parents with the best educational opportunities, protecting the unborn, election security and Second Amendment rights as priorities314.
Where they stand 17 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
School choiceYes, universal school choice for every familymedium
Voted · medium confidence- 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), relating to the establishment of an education savings account program. (2025) source
- In a 2024 candidate statement he said preserving the Texas way of life includes empowering parents with the best educational opportunities possible. (2024-10-18) source
Religion in schoolsSupport laws requiring the Ten Commandments in classrooms and optional prayer periodsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 10 (2025), relating to the display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms; it passed the House 82 to 46. (2025-05-25) source
- 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. (2025) source
- Was listed as a House cosponsor of SB 11 (2025), relating to a period of prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious text in public schools. (2025) source
DEI programsBan DEI offices and required training at public institutionsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 12 (2025), relating to parental rights in public education, including requirements and prohibitions regarding instruction and diversity, equity, and inclusion duties; 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 confidence- Was listed as a House cosponsor of SB 17 (2025), relating to the purchase or acquisition of real property by certain aliens or foreign entities. (2025) source
- Voted yes on SB 17 (2025), relating to the purchase or acquisition of real property by certain aliens or foreign entities; it passed the House 86 to 59. (2025-05-09) source
Curriculum and booksParents, including the right to remove material they object tomedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 13 (2025), relating to school library materials, local school library advisory councils and parental rights regarding library catalogs and access; it passed the House 86 to 55. (2025-05-28) 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), 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- Was listed as a House cosponsor of SB 9 (2025), relating to the confinement or release of defendants before trial or sentencing, including regulating charitable bail organizations, and the conditions of and procedures for setting bail and reviewing bail decisions. (2025) source
- Voted yes on SB 9 (2025), relating to the confinement or release of defendants before trial or sentencing, including regulating charitable bail organizations and bail procedures; it passed the House 118 to 25. (2025-05-20) source
School vaccinesKeep requirements with simple personal-belief exemptionsmedium
Official action · medium confidenceImmigrationSecure the border first; deport those with criminal records; keep legal immigration steadymedium
Said · medium confidenceGender care for minorsNo, ban these treatments for minorsmedium
Official action · medium confidence- Was listed as a House coauthor of HB 3399 (2025), relating to the provision of procedures and treatments for gender transitioning, gender reassignment, or gender dysphoria and the use of public money or public assistance to provide those procedures or treatments. (2025) source
AbortionIllegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestlow
Said · low confidence- In a 2024 candidate statement he listed protecting the unborn among his priorities. (2024-10-18) source
- Voted yes on HB 7 (2025, second called session), relating to prohibitions on 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, second called session), relating to prohibitions on the manufacture and provision of abortion-inducing drugs. (2025) source
Election rulesStrict photo ID, paper ballots, cleaner voter rolls and fewer mail ballotslow
Official action · low confidence- In a 2024 candidate statement he listed securing our elections among his priorities. (2024-10-18) 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; the bill history shows its last action as a House committee report sent to Calendars on May 25, 2025, with no House floor vote. (2025) source
Property taxesKeep cutting them and cap how fast they can riselow
Said · low confidenceKids onlineNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted no on HB 186 (2025), relating to prohibiting use of social media platforms by children; it passed the House 116 to 25. (2025-04-30) source
AI data centersNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted no on SB 6 (2025), relating to the planning for, interconnection and operation of, and costs related to providing service for certain electrical loads; it passed the House 103 to 25. (2025-05-27) source
MarijuanaNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted no on HB 46 (2025), relating to the medical use of low-THC cannabis and the administration of the Texas Compassionate-Use Program; it passed the House 122 to 21. (2025-05-13) source
- Voted yes on SB 3 (2025), relating to the regulation of products derived from hemp, including consumable hemp products; it passed the House 87 to 54. (2025-05-22) source
Housing and growthNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted no on SB 15 (2025), relating to size and density requirements for residential lots in certain municipalities; it passed the House 86 to 43. (2025-05-28) source
- Voted no on the final version of SB 15 (2025), relating to size and density requirements for residential lots in certain municipalities; the House adopted the conference committee report 78 to 57. (2025-06-01) source
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Guns, Energy and climate, Texas power grid, 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, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes.
Detrick DeBurr
DemocratSoftware engineer and planning and zoning commissioner
Detrick DeBurr is a Democrat and software engineer who serves on The Colony's Planning and Zoning Commission and previously served on the planning and zoning commission in Cedar Hill2. He ran for this seat in 2024 and lost to Mitch Little, 60.3 percent to 39.7 percent2. His 2026 campaign priorities are affordability and the economy, fully funding public education, and steady, ethical leadership2.
Where they stand 3 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
Curriculum and booksLocally elected school boardsmedium
Questionnaire answer · medium confidence- In the 2026 ATPE survey he said local school districts should be the primary determiners of curriculum standards and the selection of materials. (2026) source
School choiceNo, keep public money in traditional public schoolslow
Questionnaire answer · low confidence- In the 2026 ATPE survey he said funding private schools is not a priority of the state because the Texas Constitution calls for free public schools, and that vouchers could possibly be considered only after Texas is in the top five states in public education funding. (2026) source
Safety net programsExpand help for childcare, housing and paid family leavelow
Said · low confidence- His campaign site lists funding healthcare through the expansion of Medicaid in Texas and slowly and intentionally expanding the social net in Texas among his priorities. (2026) source
No public position found on: Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Abortion, Guns, Immigration, Energy and climate, Texas power grid, AI data centers, 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.