2026 Texas General Election

Representative Shofner continues her family’s legacy of faith-based community leadership. She and her husband, David, cherish time spent with their blended family of seven children, their spouses, and six grandchildren.

Texas House biography for Rep. Joanne Shofner

Joanne Shofner and her husband, David, have a blended family of seven children and six grandchildren.

Rep. Shofner, Joanne - District 11 - Texas House of Representatives

Republican State Rep. Travis Clardy of Nacogdoches lost the primary election to local businesswoman Joanne Shofner for House District 11. House District 11 encompasses Nacogdoches, Newton, Panola, Rusk, Sabine, and Shelby Counties.

State Rep. Travis Clardy Loses Primary Election to Joanne Shofner

State Representative Joanne Shofner proudly serves House District 11 in the Texas House of Representatives, representing the people of Nacogdoches, Henderson, Panola, Shelby, Sabine, and Newton Counties. A seventh-generation Texan, Representative Shofner embodies the district’s deeply held values of faith, family, freedom, and service. She is committed to being a strong voice for rural Texas and an advocate for the communities she represents.

For the 89th Legislative Session, Representative Shofner was appointed to serve on the House Committees on Higher Education and Public Health. In her first term, she passed a landmark piece of legislation, House Bill 25, which advances medical freedom by allowing over-the-counter access to Ivermectin, a Nobel Prize–winning anti-parasitic medication.

Joanne serves as the state representative for District 11 in the Texas House of Representatives.

##### Cut Taxes

  * Ban taxpayer funded lobbying
  * Reduce property taxes for working families
  * Reform and cut property taxes permanently

Priorities - Joanne Shofner

Plans to reduce property taxes for working families.

- Plans to reduce property taxes for working families.

Economy

##### Protect Texans

  * Defend 2nd Amendment
  * Prevent defunding police
  * Protect women’s sports
  * Protect medical freedom.
  * Protect Election integrity

History for 89(R) HB 4793 by Shofner. Caption Text: Relating to a Texas Commission on Law Enforcement advisory committee regarding active shooter response training for peace officers. Author: Shofner.

89(R) History for HB 4793 | Texas Legislature Online

Supports gun rights under the Second Amendment.

Plans to prevent reductions in police funding.

Authored HB 4793 concerning a Texas Commission on Law Enforcement advisory committee on active-shooter-response training for peace officers.

- Supports gun rights under the Second Amendment.
- Plans to prevent reductions in police funding.
- Authored HB 4793 concerning a Texas Commission on Law Enforcement advisory committee on active-shooter-response training for peace officers.

Public Safety

History for 89(R) HB 3737 by Shofner. Caption Text: Relating to the prohibited prescription, delivery, administration, use, advertisement, and solicitation of a COVID-19 vaccine containing mRNA material. Author: Shofner.

89(R) History for HB 3737 | Texas Legislature Online

##### Protect Our Children

  * Stop sexualizing children through indoctrination in schools
  * Stop big tech and predators from preying on our children
  * Solidify parental rights and freedom for their children’s school choice
  * 100% pro-life

History for 89(R) HB 3219 by Shofner. Caption Text: Relating to a statewide order issued by the commissioner of state health services authorizing a pharmacist to dispense ivermectin. Author: Shofner | Harris | Hefner | Virdell | Pierson.

89(R) History for HB 3219 | Texas Legislature Online

Rep. Joanne W. Shofner 89th Legislature Regular Session Report Date: 8/12/2026 Number of Bills: 91. The report lists Shofner as author of HB 4358. Caption: Relating to an over the counter sale or provision of oral contraceptives.

Bills Authored / Joint Authored (Texas Legislature)

Rep. Joanne W. Shofner 89th Legislature Regular Session Report Date: 8/12/2026 Number of Bills: 91. The report lists Shofner as author of HB 3735. Caption: Relating to health benefit plan coverage for prenatal care, childbirth, and postnatal care provided in a hospital, birthing center, or home setting.

Authored HB 3737 to prohibit the prescription, delivery, administration, use, advertisement, and solicitation of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.

Opposes abortion access, describing herself as "100% pro-life."

Authored HB 3219 to authorize a statewide order allowing pharmacists to dispense ivermectin.

Authored HB 4358 concerning over-the-counter sale or provision of oral contraceptives.

Authored HB 3735 concerning health-plan coverage for prenatal, childbirth, and postnatal care in hospital, birthing-center, and home settings.

- Authored HB 3737 to prohibit the prescription, delivery, administration, use, advertisement, and solicitation of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.
- Opposes abortion access, describing herself as "100% pro-life."
- Authored HB 3219 to authorize a statewide order allowing pharmacists to dispense ivermectin.
- Authored HB 4358 concerning over-the-counter sale or provision of oral contraceptives.
- Authored HB 3735 concerning health-plan coverage for prenatal, childbirth, and postnatal care in hospital, birthing-center, and home settings.

Healthcare

##### Protect Our Children

  * Stop sexualizing children through indoctrination in schools
  * Stop big tech and predators from preying on our children
  * Solidify parental rights and freedom for their children’s school choice
  * 100% pro-life

Joanne strongly believes that parents should have the right to send their kids to the school of their choice using their own taxpayer dollars.

Rep. Joanne W. Shofner 89th Legislature Regular Session Report Date: 8/12/2026 Number of Bills: 91. The report lists Shofner as author of HB 3739. Caption: Relating to fetal development instruction included as part of the public school health curriculum in certain grade levels.

History for 89(R) HB 3742 by Shofner. Caption Text: Relating to prohibiting public institutions of higher education from providing instruction regarding the use of gender pronouns. Author: Shofner.

Texas Legislature Online - 89(R) History for HB 3742

Supports allowing parents to use taxpayer dollars to send their children to the school of their choice.

Authored House Bill (HB) 3739 to add instruction on fetal development to public-school health curricula at certain grade levels.

Authored HB 3742 to prohibit public higher-education institutions from providing instruction on using gender pronouns.

- Supports allowing parents to use taxpayer dollars to send their children to the school of their choice.
- Authored House Bill (HB) 3739 to add instruction on fetal development to public-school health curricula at certain grade levels.
- Authored HB 3742 to prohibit public higher-education institutions from providing instruction on using gender pronouns.

Education

Rep. Joanne W. Shofner 89th Legislature Regular Session Report Date: 8/12/2026 Number of Bills: 91. The report lists Shofner as author of HB 2179. Caption: Relating to the addition of certain counties to the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan.

Rep. Joanne W. Shofner 89th Legislature Regular Session Report Date: 8/12/2026 Number of Bills: 91. The report lists Shofner as author of HB 3734. Caption: Relating to testing for mifepristone and other estrogen hormones in public drinking water.

Rep. Joanne W. Shofner 89th Legislature Regular Session Report Date: 8/12/2026 Number of Bills: 91. The report lists Shofner as author of HB 3740. Caption: Relating to chemicals and techniques used in weather modification and control.

Authored HB 2179 to add certain counties to the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan.

Authored HB 3734 concerning testing public drinking water for mifepristone and other estrogen hormones.

Authored HB 3740 concerning chemicals and techniques used in weather modification and control.

- Authored HB 2179 to add certain counties to the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan.
- Authored HB 3734 concerning testing public drinking water for mifepristone and other estrogen hormones.
- Authored HB 3740 concerning chemicals and techniques used in weather modification and control.

Energy & the Environment

##### Protect Texans

  * Defend 2nd Amendment
  * Prevent defunding police
  * Protect women’s sports
  * Protect medical freedom.
  * Protect Election integrity

Joanne will protect the integrity of our elections by requiring felony prosecution of voter fraud.

Plans to require felony prosecution for voter fraud.

- Plans to require felony prosecution for voter fraud.

Voting & Elections

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Joanne Shofner

- Opposes abortion access, describing herself as "100% pro-life."
- Authored HB 3219 to authorize a statewide order allowing pharmacists to dispense ivermectin.
- Authored HB 4358 concerning over-the-counter sale or provision of oral contraceptives.
- Authored HB 3735 concerning health-plan coverage for prenatal, childbirth, and postnatal care in hospital, birthing-center, and home settings.

Joanne Shofner is from Nacogdoches, Texas. She has a bachelor 27s degree in hotel and restaurant management. She and her husband, David, have seven children and six grandchildren.

Joanne is a former Texas state representative. She served District 134 from 2007 to 2011. 

Joanne is currently a member of the Texas House of Representatives, representing District 11. She previously served in the Texas House from 2007 to 2011.

As of July 22, 2026, Joanne Shofner’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Joanne Shofner is from Nacogdoches, Texas. She and her husband, David, have seven children and six grandchildren together.

Joanne previously served as a Texas State Representative, representing District 134 from 2007 to 2011.

Joanne is currently a member of the Texas House of Representatives, representing House District 11. She previously served in the Texas House from 2007 to 2011.

Buket Urgen

Mauricio Mendez

MEET ROXANNE

I was raised in East Texas and I graduated from Nacogdoches High School. I met my husband in church while he was a senior at SFASU. He became a state trooper with the Texas DPS in 1986, and we married the following year.

Over the next few years, we had our daughters. We built a family and now are proud grandparents of two grandsons.

Roxanne Lathan for Texas House District 11

I received my BA from the Univ. of Texas at Dallas and my Masters in Edu. Admin. from the Univ. of Phoenix online. In 2004, I began my career in education as an elementary teacher and eventually retired as a principal. I have my teaching, principal, and superintendent certifications.

I retired from education after working 21 years in the field and that's not counting the three years as a substitute teacher.

Roxanne Lathan was raised in East Texas. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Dallas and a master's degree in education administration from the University of Phoenix. She is married and has two grandsons.

Roxanne Lathan retired as a principal after working as an elementary school teacher. She holds teaching, principal, and superintendent certifications.

Roxanne retired as a principal after working as an elementary school teacher. She holds teaching, principal, and superintendent certifications.

Q: Do you support a statewide minimum wage increase to at least $15/hour?

Yes, I support raising the statewide minimum wage to at least $15 per hour. No one working full-time should struggle to afford basic necessities like housing, food, healthcare, and transportation. The current minimum wage has not kept pace with the rising cost of living, especially in communities across Texas where working families are feeling the strain of inflation and stagnant wages.

Meet The Candidates: Roxanne Lathan For Texas State House District 11

Q: Should Texas end tax subsidies and abatements for large corporations?

Yes, I believe Texas should end excessive tax subsidies and abatements for large corporations. While strategic, limited incentives can sometimes play a role in economic development, too often these subsidies shift the tax burden onto working families and small businesses while large, profitable corporations receive generous breaks. That is not a level playing field, and it undermines public trust when everyday Texans are asked to do more while corporations do less.

Putting food on the table requires livable wages and economic growth. When people earn more, they can afford groceries, housing, and a better quality of life. Some ideas to bring good paying jobs to East Texas is to identify and support House and Senate bills that promote livable wages. We can better market our region and partner with businesses interested in relocating to East Texas to create higher income jobs. Advocate for small businesses for payroll tax cuts to help small businesses increase revenue. Lower taxes mean more room to hire, grow, and reinvest in our communities.

Supports raising the statewide minimum wage to at least $15 per hour.

Supports ending excessive tax subsidies and abatements for large corporations while retaining limited strategic incentives.

Plans to market East Texas and partner with relocating businesses to create higher-income jobs.

Advocates for payroll tax cuts for small businesses to support revenue growth.

- Supports raising the statewide minimum wage to at least $15 per hour.
- Supports ending excessive tax subsidies and abatements for large corporations while retaining limited strategic incentives.
- Plans to market East Texas and partner with relocating businesses to create higher-income jobs.
- Advocates for payroll tax cuts for small businesses to support revenue growth.

Safe & Secure Borders

We must use the latest technologies to patrol the border to keep out illegal drugs, weapons, and terrorists. However, people migrating to the US who have not broken any laws and apply for asylum/visas should be able to immediately apply for and become citizens within six months as long as all requirements are met.

Supports using new technology to patrol the border against drug and weapons trafficking and terrorism.

- Supports using new technology to patrol the border against drug and weapons trafficking and terrorism.

Everyone deserves access to care without the fear of financial ruin. There are several ways to try and solve this problem through policy reforms, such as Medicare's new drug price negotiation program under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is already working to lower prices, projected to save the government and beneficiaries billions in its first few years. We can continue to collaborate with medical professionals and pharmaceutical companies to reduce healthcare costs. Value-based care is better than traditional fee-for-service and telemedicine can lower the cost for consultations.

Supports value-based care and telemedicine as ways to reduce healthcare costs.

- Supports value-based care and telemedicine as ways to reduce healthcare costs.

Q: Do you oppose school vouchers and efforts to privatize public education?

Yes, I oppose school vouchers and efforts to privatize public education. Public schools are the foundation of our communities, especially in rural and small-town Texas, where they often serve as the heart of the community. Being a retired principal in public education, I am against the voucher scam. Voucher programs divert critical public funding away from neighborhood schools and send it to private institutions that are not held to the same standards of accountability, transparency, or accessibility.

Q: Should Texas guarantee free school meals to all K–12 students, regardless of income?

Yes, I support guaranteeing free school meals to all K–12 students in Texas, regardless of income. No child should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from while trying to learn. Hunger directly impacts a student’s ability to focus, perform academically, and fully participate in school.

Slow the process. Direct the SBOE to pause final adoption and convene a new work group of vetted classroom teachers, curriculum coordinators, and university-level content experts to conduct a full review of the proposed standards for accuracy, vertical alignment, and developmental appropriateness before any vote proceeds.

Texas House of Representatives public comments: State of Education

Require a fiscal impact analysis. Before adoption, the legislature should require TEA to produce a full accounting of implementation costs — curriculum materials, professional development, and projected teacher attrition and replacement — so districts can plan and taxpayers are informed of costs.

Opposes school vouchers and efforts to privatize public education.

Supports guaranteeing free school meals to all kindergarten through 12th-grade students, regardless of income.

Calls for the State Board of Education to pause adoption of proposed standards pending an expert review.

Calls for a Texas Education Agency accounting of the implementation costs of proposed standards before adoption.

- Opposes school vouchers and efforts to privatize public education.
- Supports guaranteeing free school meals to all kindergarten through 12th-grade students, regardless of income.
- Calls for the State Board of Education to pause adoption of proposed standards pending an expert review.
- Calls for a Texas Education Agency accounting of the implementation costs of proposed standards before adoption.

East Texas families deserve better than the status quo. I’m running to be your voice in Austin, and I need your help to get there. I want to help those in East Texas who are struggling to put food on the table, afford healthcare and housing, and find decent-paying jobs. These are real challenges that affect families every day.

There are many other issues like fighting for our water rights, putting regulations on already built data centers and pausing those not built yet, and more.

Supports protecting water rights, regulating existing data centers, and pausing construction of proposed data centers.

- Supports protecting water rights, regulating existing data centers, and pausing construction of proposed data centers.

Q: Do you support automatic voter registration and same-day registration in Texas?

Yes, I strongly support automatic voter registration and same-day registration in Texas. Voting is a fundamental right, and our system should make it easier—not harder—for eligible citizens to participate. Automatic registration helps ensure that more Texans are included in the democratic process, while same-day registration provides flexibility for people who may miss deadlines due to work, family responsibilities, or other barriers.

Supports automatic voter registration and same-day voter registration in Texas.

- Supports automatic voter registration and same-day voter registration in Texas.

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Roxanne Lathan

Roxanne Lathan was raised in East Texas and graduated from Nacogdoches High School. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas at Dallas and a master's degree in educational administration from the University of Phoenix. She met her husband in church.

Roxanne previously worked as an elementary teacher and retired as a principal. She holds teaching, principal, and superintendent certifications.

- Supports raising the statewide minimum wage to at least $15 per hour.
- Supports ending excessive corporate tax subsidies and abatements while allowing limited strategic incentives.
- Advocates for payroll tax cuts for small businesses.

- Calls for using technology at the border to prevent illegal drugs, weapons, and terrorists from entering the United States.
- Supports a six-month path to citizenship for eligible asylum or visa applicants, undocumented workers, and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients.
- Calls for deportations to be conducted humanely and without violent enforcement tactics.

- Advocates for value-based care and telemedicine to reduce healthcare costs.

- Opposes school vouchers and efforts to privatize public education.
- Advocates for fully funding public education, including teachers, facilities, and career and technical programs.
- Supports free school meals for all Texas kindergarten through 12th-grade students, regardless of income.
- Advocates for enhanced vocational training and higher education without unfunded mandates.
- Calls for higher salaries for teachers in rural areas.

- Calls for regulating existing data centers and pausing data-center projects that have not been built.

Roxanne is a retired school principal. She worked for East Texas public schools for 21 years, where she began in 2004 as an elementary teacher and eventually retired as a principal. She previously worked as a substitute teacher in rural East Texas for three years.

As of July 22, 2026, Roxanne Lathan’s website did not contain information on this issue.

- Your state representative represents the interests of your local district in the Texas House of Representatives. The State House of Representatives, along with the State Senate, makes up your state lawmaking body: the Texas State Legislature
- Your state representative can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws. 
- There are 150 members of the Texas House of Representatives, each representing a single district. Representatives must be at least 21 years old and reside in the state for at least two years before their election. 
- State representatives are elected to two-year terms during even-numbered years. There are no term limits. 
- State representatives make $7,200 annually in addition to a $221 payment per day during legislative sessions and mileage reimbursements.

Your representative and state lawmaker in the Texas House of Representatives.

Texas State Representative, District 11

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