Senator Lois Kolkhorst
District 18

Senator Lois W. Kolkhorst is a fifth generation Texan, with ancestral roots dating back to the Texas War of Independence.  Born and raised in Senate District 18, she attended public schools before graduating from Texas Christian University, where she was a four-year letter winner on the Lady Frog golf team.

Her professional career began in athletic administration at TCU, prior to her and her husband relocating to their hometown of Brenham to start a number of small businesses. In 2014, after seven successful terms in the Texas House, she was elected to the Texas Senate in a special election, becoming only the 17th female to serve in the Texas Senate since 1845.

Senator Kolkhorst led the State of Texas through the COVID-19 pandemic and created new initiatives that improve women's health and maternal mortality rates. She has worked with hospitals to see that they provide better care for high-risk pregnant women and newborns, and created an innovative funding method for newborn screenings in Texas. She has also worked closely with advocates to protect abused children and reform our foster care system.

As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services, Senator Kolkhorst sets public health policies, and oversees physicians and licensed health professionals. She also serves on the Senate Committees on Finance, Transportation, and Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs.