Raised in Dayton, Texas and grew up with her grandparents who balanced farming, baking, and household work, and by a single mother who worked odd end jobs while building their lives and relying on government assistance, Valorie learned resilience, hope, and the power of community early on.

Valorie Barton for Texas HD 18

A single mother of three, she put her children through college on a single income while building a career in the oil and gas industry and serving as a government contractor during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Valorie Barton, a resident of Montgomery County, has officially announced her candidacy for the Texas House of Representatives, District 18. Barton, a former educator and community advocate, aims to bring her experience and passion for public service to the Texas Legislature.

Valorie Barton announces run for Texas House District 18

Valorie Barton was raised in Dayton, Texas. She is a single mother of three and a resident of Montgomery County.

Valorie worked in the oil and gas industry and served as a government contractor during Operation Iraqi Freedom. She is also a former educator.

She has served on the City of Dayton City Council, TML Region 16 Board as Vice President and HGAC (elected alternate for the City of Dayton) and consistently focuses on practical solutions that improve everyday lives.

Valorie has served on the Dayton City Council.

2026 Texas General Election

Local Economy & Small Business

I will cut bureaucratic red tape, empower small businesses, protect local budgets, and fight for farmers hurt by tariffs so District 18’s economy and working families can thrive.

Plans to cut regulations, support small businesses and local budgets, and assist farmers affected by tariffs.

- Plans to cut regulations, support small businesses and local budgets, and assist farmers affected by tariffs.

Economy

Protecting Rights by Preventing Tragedy

I respect the Constitution and law-abiding gun owners. At the same time, we cannot accept mass shootings and public slaughter as the price of freedom. I will fight to keep military-grade assault weapons where they belong — with our armed forces and properly trained law enforcement — and restrict their availability to the general public.

I respect the Constitution and law-abiding gun owners. At the same time, we cannot accept mass shootings and public slaughter as the price of freedom. I will fight to keep military-grade assault weapons where they belong — with our armed forces and properly trained law enforcement — and restrict their availability to the general public. My approach is practical and rights-respecting: strengthen background checks, close loopholes that let dangerous and ill equipped mentally and emotionally people acquire weapons, require training and secure storage for certain high-capacity firearms, and enforce existing laws fairly and predictably.

Safety, Dignity, and Real Results

Public safety starts with taking care of our neighbors. I will work to expand access to quality mental-health care, invest in community-based treatment and crisis response, invest in community treatment and crisis response for adducts with prior or after effects of using prescriptive and illegal drugs, and remove barriers that throw vulnerable people into the margins.

Will restrict the general public's access to military-grade assault weapons.

Supports stronger background checks, closing firearm-purchase loopholes, and training and secure-storage requirements for certain high-capacity firearms.

Will expand mental-health care and invest in community treatment and crisis response, including for people affected by prescription-drug and illegal-drug use.

- Will restrict the general public's access to military-grade assault weapons.
- Supports stronger background checks, closing firearm-purchase loopholes, and training and secure-storage requirements for certain high-capacity firearms.
- Will expand mental-health care and invest in community treatment and crisis response, including for people affected by prescription-drug and illegal-drug use.

Public Safety

Barton also highlighted her commitment to addressing healthcare access and affordability, particularly in rural areas. "We need to make sure that all Texans have access to the healthcare they need, regardless of where they live," she said.

A survivor of domestic violence, Valorie is a vocal advocate for survivors’ rights and for women’s autonomy over their bodies and choices. As a conservative Democrat, she balances fiscal responsibility with compassion, rejects extremism, and prioritizes the core issues affecting her constituents.

That means insurance parity for mental health, support for outpatient and inpatient care when needed, incentives for more clinicians in underserved areas, and stronger crisis-intervention teams that work with law enforcement. By treating illness early and humanely, we reduce violent crises, lower law-enforcement burdens, and restore dignity and productivity to people who want to work and contribute.

Calls for healthcare access for all Texans regardless of where they live.

Advocates for survivors’ rights and women’s autonomy over their bodies and choices.

Supports equal insurance coverage for mental-health care, treatment access, clinician incentives in underserved areas, and crisis-intervention teams that work with law enforcement.

- Calls for healthcare access for all Texans regardless of where they live.
- Advocates for survivors’ rights and women’s autonomy over their bodies and choices.
- Supports equal insurance coverage for mental-health care, treatment access, clinician incentives in underserved areas, and crisis-intervention teams that work with law enforcement.

Healthcare

In her announcement, Barton emphasized the importance of education, healthcare, and economic development in her campaign. She stated, "I believe that every child in Texas deserves a quality education, and I will fight to ensure that our schools are adequately funded and supported."

Will fight for adequate funding and support for Texas schools.

- Will fight for adequate funding and support for Texas schools.

Education

* VALORIE BARTON: That was a long question, like four questions in one question. The ideas that I have to bring to the city of Dayton is, of course, to see us have a bike trail. I am into my health and fitness these days. I just started that. I know that in other communities, as I said I travel quite a bit and I get ideas from other communities. I think, wow that would be pretty cool to have in Dayton, definitely a green area where people can just walk and see the greenery and it not be all concrete.

Dayton City Council candidates share their ideas on growth and challenges in Chamber-hosted forum - Bluebonnet News

Proposed a bike trail and green walking area in Dayton.

- Proposed a bike trail and green walking area in Dayton.

Energy & the Environment

The U.S. Term Limits pledge is provided to candidates and members of state legislatures. It reads, “I pledge that, as a member of the state legislature, I will cosponsor, vote for, and defend the resolution applying for an Article V convention for the sole purpose of enacting term limits on Congress.” The organization reported that 2026 Texas state House candidate Valorie Barton had signed the pledge.

Valorie Barton pledges to support congressional term limits

Pledges to cosponsor, vote for, and defend a resolution seeking a convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution solely to enact congressional term limits.

- Pledges to cosponsor, vote for, and defend a resolution seeking a convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution solely to enact congressional term limits.

Voting & Elections

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Valorie Barton

- Will expand mental-health care and invest in community treatment and crisis response, including for people affected by prescription-drug and illegal-drug use.

- Advocates for survivors’ rights and women’s autonomy over their bodies and choices.
- Supports equal insurance coverage for mental-health care, treatment access, clinician incentives in underserved areas, and crisis-intervention teams that work with law enforcement.

Valorie previously served on the Dayton City Council.

Valorie Barton Pledges to Support Congressional Term Limits

Supports reducing bureaucratic processes, protecting local budgets, and advocating for farmers affected by tariffs.

Supports gun control measures such as banning assault weapons, strengthening background checks, closing loopholes, requiring training, and ensuring secure storage for firearms.

Supports gun control, including banning assault weapons, strengthening background checks, closing loopholes, requiring training, and enforcing existing laws fairly.

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

Supports term limits for Congress members.

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Janis Holt

- 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.