Don’s service to those around him does not stop when he leaves his office. He and his wife of 31 years, Karen, are active in their church and community. Don is also a founding member of the Cactus Jack Foundation which raises funds to support children in the local and surrounding areas through positive behavior incentives in school.

Meet Don

Don McLaughlin and his wife, Karen, reside in Uvalde, Texas. They are active in their church and community. He is a founding member of the Cactus Jack Foundation.

As a successful small business owner with over 100 employees, Don has an impressive record of job creation that speaks volumes about his ability to drive economic growth. Don’s hands-on experience and understanding of the challenges faced by businesses and workers, uniquely positions him to champion policies that foster job creation, economic development, and prosperity as he serves House District 80.

Don McLaughlin is a small-business owner with more than 100 employees.

Elected to the Texas House of Representatives in November 2024, Representative Don McLaughlin is an unwavering champion for his community and fearless advocate for South Texas values.

Serving as Mayor of Uvalde for nearly a decade, Don repeatedly proved to be a steadfast leader in the face of adversity. His small town has weathered many crises including two historic and deadly winter storms, two major immigration surges, a pandemic lasting two years, and the horrific shooting at Robb Elementary that occurred in 2022.

McLaughlin gained international attention for serving as mayor of Uvalde in the wake of the 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting. He resigned to run for the D-80 seat that Democrat Tracy King has held since 1994.

Former Uvalde mayor Don McLaughlin wins Texas House District 80 GOP primary

Don was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in November 2024. He previously served as mayor of Uvalde for nearly a decade and resigned to run for the District 80 seat.

Former Uvalde mayor Don McLaughlin wins Texas House District 80 ...

2026 Texas General Election

PROTECTING TEXAS LAND FROM FOREIGN THREATS

In one of the most high-profile fights of the session, Don played a key role in strengthening and passing Senate Bill 17, which bans foreign adversaries like China, Iran, and North Korea from buying Texas land. He worked to ensure the House version of the bill was tougher than the one passed by the Senate, being one of the few Republican legislators to vote against the Shaheen Amendment.

Don’s Track Record

Texas families are being crushed by skyrocketing property taxes and runaway appraisals, and Don knows the fight for meaningful tax relief is far from over. This session, Don coauthored HJR 1 and HJR 2, both of which were steps in the in the right direction. He continues to push legislation that would rein in appraisal growth and put permanent limits on how much government, at every level, can take from homeowners. Don believes homeownership should be a blessing, not a burden, and he’s fighting to make the system fair, transparent, and grounded in commonsense.

Helped strengthen and pass Senate Bill (SB) 17, which bans China, Iran, North Korea, and other foreign adversaries from buying Texas land.

Advocates for legislation to limit property-appraisal growth and permanently restrict property taxes on homeowners.

- Helped strengthen and pass Senate Bill (SB) 17, which bans China, Iran, North Korea, and other foreign adversaries from buying Texas land.
- Advocates for legislation to limit property-appraisal growth and permanently restrict property taxes on homeowners.

Economy

PROTECTING OUR SCHOOLS

One of Don’s most personal and important accomplishments this session was passing House Bill 33—The Uvalde Strong Act. In response to the tragedy at Robb Elementary, Don led the charge to implement meaningful school safety reforms that ensure law enforcement has the tools, training, and authority to act swiftly in the face of danger. The bill upgrades emergency protocols, tightens security standards, and brings Texas on step closer to ensuring that what happened in Uvalde never happens again.

BORDER SECURITY & PUBLIC SAFETY

Don has made it a priority to protect Texas families by strengthening border enforcement and closing dangerous loopholes in our justice system. He co-sponsored legislation to deny bail to illegal immigrants charged with violent crimes and authored a bill to create a statewide database tracking violent offenders—both blocked by Democrats.

He co-sponsored legislation to deny bail to illegal immigrants charged with violent crimes and authored a bill to create a statewide database tracking violent offenders—both blocked by Democrats. He helped pass laws to permanently bar parole for child traffickers, increase penalties for violent crimes involving body armor, and require transparency when judges dismiss probable cause. And with the passage of HB 4341, Don helped modernize how Texas maps and protects its critical infrastructure, giving first responders better tools to react quickly during emergencies.

He helped pass laws to permanently bar parole for child traffickers, increase penalties for violent crimes involving body armor, and require transparency when judges dismiss probable cause. And with the passage of HB 4341, Don helped modernize how Texas maps and protects its critical infrastructure, giving first responders better tools to react quickly during emergencies.

Helped pass House Bill (HB) 33, the Uvalde Strong Act, which establishes school-safety reforms for law-enforcement response and emergency protocols.

Co-sponsored legislation to deny bail to undocumented immigrants charged with violent crimes.

Authored a bill to create a statewide database tracking violent offenders.

Helped pass laws permanently barring parole for child traffickers and increasing penalties for violent crimes involving body armor.

Helped pass a law requiring transparency when judges dismiss probable cause.

Helped pass HB 4341 to modernize Texas systems for mapping and protecting critical infrastructure during emergencies.

- Helped pass House Bill (HB) 33, the Uvalde Strong Act, which establishes school-safety reforms for law-enforcement response and emergency protocols.
- Co-sponsored legislation to deny bail to undocumented immigrants charged with violent crimes.
- Authored a bill to create a statewide database tracking violent offenders.
- Helped pass laws permanently barring parole for child traffickers and increasing penalties for violent crimes involving body armor.
- Helped pass a law requiring transparency when judges dismiss probable cause.
- Helped pass HB 4341 to modernize Texas systems for mapping and protecting critical infrastructure during emergencies.

Public Safety

FUNDING RURAL MENTAL HEALTH

For too long, rural Texans have been left behind when it comes to mental health care. That’s why Don passed a budget amendment to secure $12.5 million in state funding to launch the Uvalde Behavioral Health Campus, which will serve 32 counties across South and West Texas. It’s one of the most significant rural health investments made this session and a direct result of Don’s leadership.

Passed a budget amendment securing $12.5 million to launch the Uvalde Behavioral Health Campus, serving 32 South and West Texas counties.

- Passed a budget amendment securing $12.5 million to launch the Uvalde Behavioral Health Campus, serving 32 South and West Texas counties.

Healthcare

Education

This session, Don secured over $132 million in historic funding for public schools in House District 80. But there’s more work to do.

The Texas Legislature came close to eliminating the STAAR test, with unanimous support in the House, but the bill didn’t make it across the finish line. Don is ready to return next session and finish the job. He’s committed to real education reform: less teaching to a test, more focus on life skills, financial literacy, and career training so every student is prepared for the real world.

Issues

The Texas Legislature came close to eliminating the STAAR test, with unanimous support in the House, but the bill didn’t make it across the finish line. Don is ready to return next session and finish the job. He’s committed to real education reform: less teaching to a test, more focus on life skills, financial literacy, and career training so every student is prepared for the real world.

DELIVERING FOR SOUTH TEXAS SCHOOLS

Don helped secure over $132 million in new funding for public schools in House District 80. The money goes straight into classrooms, teacher pay, and student resources in some of the most underserved communities in the state. Don also backed legislation to protect parents’ rights, ensure transparency in school boards, and stop political agendas from creeping into the classroom.

Plans to seek elimination of the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) test in the next legislative session.

Advocates for less teaching to standardized tests and greater emphasis on life skills, financial literacy, and career training.

Helped secure more than $132 million in new public-school funding for District 80 classrooms, teacher pay, and student resources.

- Plans to seek elimination of the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) test in the next legislative session.
- Advocates for less teaching to standardized tests and greater emphasis on life skills, financial literacy, and career training.
- Helped secure more than $132 million in new public-school funding for District 80 classrooms, teacher pay, and student resources.

Education

SECURING WATER FOR SOUTH TEXAS

Don knows that water is the number one issue facing South Texas, and he’s delivering results. This session, he co-authored HJR 7, creating the Texas Water Fund and securing $1 billion for long-term rural water infrastructure. He’s also leading efforts to develop brackish water resources and ensure rural South Texas isn’t left behind in statewide planning.

This session, he co-authored HJR 7, creating the Texas Water Fund and securing $1 billion for long-term rural water infrastructure. He’s also leading efforts to develop brackish water resources and ensure rural South Texas isn’t left behind in statewide planning. Don will always fight to make sure our communities have access to clean, reliable water—and that South Texas has a voice at the table.

Co-authored House Joint Resolution (HJR) 7, creating the Texas Water Fund and securing $1 billion for long-term rural water infrastructure.

Advocates for developing brackish-water resources and including rural South Texas in statewide water planning.

- Co-authored House Joint Resolution (HJR) 7, creating the Texas Water Fund and securing $1 billion for long-term rural water infrastructure.
- Advocates for developing brackish-water resources and including rural South Texas in statewide water planning.

Energy & the Environment

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

Voting & Elections

Twitter

Instagram

Don Mclaughlin

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

Don McLaughlin

Facebook

Don’s service to those around him does not stop when he leaves his office. He and his wife of 31 years, Karen, are active in their church and community.

Don is also a founding member of the Cactus Jack Foundation which raises funds to support children in the local and surrounding areas through positive behavior incentives in school.

Don McLaughlin lives in Uvalde, Texas, with his wife, Karen. He and his wife are active in their church and community. He is a founding member of the Cactus Jack Foundation.

As a successful small business owner with over 100 employees, Don has an impressive record of job creation that speaks volumes about his ability to drive economic growth.

Don McLaughlin is a small business owner with more than 100 employees.

Don was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in November 2024. He previously served as mayor of Uvalde for nearly a decade.

This past session, Don helped deliver critical tax relief, but he’s not stopping there.

Don is still fighting to rein in runaway appraisals, cut wasteful government spending, and drive down tax bills in a meaningful, lasting way. Texans deserve a system that’s fair, transparent, and doesn’t punish them for simply owning their home or land.

This session, Don coauthored HJR 1 and HJR 2, both of which were steps in the in the right direction. He continues to push legislation that would rein in appraisal growth and put permanent limits on how much government, at every level, can take from homeowners. Don believes homeownership should be a blessing, not a burden, and he’s fighting to make the system fair, transparent, and grounded in commonsense.

Advocates for limiting property-appraisal growth, reducing government spending, and lowering property-tax bills.

- Advocates for limiting property-appraisal growth, reducing government spending, and lowering property-tax bills.

Keeping Families Safe

In his first legislative session, Don fought to defend Texas from every angle—supporting bail reform, strengthening border security, and passing SB 17 to stop foreign adversaries like China and Iran from buying Texas land.

Don has made it a priority to protect Texas families by strengthening border enforcement and closing dangerous loopholes in our justice system. He co-sponsored legislation to deny bail to illegal immigrants charged with violent crimes and authored a bill to create a statewide database tracking violent offenders—both blocked by Democrats.

One of Don’s most personal and important accomplishments this session was passing House Bill 33—The Uvalde Strong Act. In response to the tragedy at Robb Elementary, Don led the charge to implement meaningful school safety reforms that ensure law enforcement has the tools, training, and authority to act swiftly in the face of danger. The bill upgrades emergency protocols, tightens security standards, and brings Texas on step closer to ensuring that what happened in Uvalde never happens again.

Supports bail reform, border security, and Senate Bill (SB) 17, which restricts land purchases by specified foreign adversaries.

Co-sponsored legislation to deny bail to undocumented immigrants charged with violent crimes and authored a statewide violent-offender database bill.

Helped pass laws permanently barring parole for child traffickers, increasing penalties for violent crimes involving body armor, and requiring transparency in probable-cause dismissals.

Helped pass House Bill (HB) 4341 to modernize Texas critical-infrastructure mapping and give first responders emergency-response tools.

Led House Bill 33, the Uvalde Strong Act, to upgrade school emergency protocols and security standards.

- Supports bail reform, border security, and Senate Bill (SB) 17, which restricts land purchases by specified foreign adversaries.
- Co-sponsored legislation to deny bail to undocumented immigrants charged with violent crimes and authored a statewide violent-offender database bill.
- Helped pass laws permanently barring parole for child traffickers, increasing penalties for violent crimes involving body armor, and requiring transparency in probable-cause dismissals.
- Helped pass House Bill (HB) 4341 to modernize Texas critical-infrastructure mapping and give first responders emergency-response tools.
- Led House Bill 33, the Uvalde Strong Act, to upgrade school emergency protocols and security standards.

For too long, rural Texans have been left behind when it comes to mental health care. That’s why Don passed a budget amendment to secure $12.5 million in state funding to launch the Uvalde Behavioral Health Campus, which will serve 32 counties across South and West Texas. It’s one of the most significant rural health investments made this session and a direct result of Don’s leadership.

Passed a budget amendment providing $12.5 million to launch the Uvalde Behavioral Health Campus serving 32 South and West Texas counties.

- Passed a budget amendment providing $12.5 million to launch the Uvalde Behavioral Health Campus serving 32 South and West Texas counties.

Education

This session, Don secured over $132 million in historic funding for public schools in House District 80. But there’s more work to do.

Backed legislation on parents' rights and school-board transparency.

Committed to reducing teaching to the test and expanding life-skills, financial-literacy, and career-training instruction.

Secured more than $132 million in funding for public schools in House District 80.

- Committed to reducing teaching to the test and expanding life-skills, financial-literacy, and career-training instruction.
- Secured more than $132 million in funding for public schools in House District 80.

Don knows that water is the number one issue facing South Texas, and he’s delivering results. This session, he co-authored HJR 7, creating the Texas Water Fund and securing $1 billion for long-term rural water infrastructure. He’s also leading efforts to develop brackish water resources and ensure rural South Texas isn’t left behind in statewide planning.

Co-authored House Joint Resolution (HJR) 7, creating the Texas Water Fund and securing $1 billion for rural water infrastructure.

Leads efforts to develop brackish-water resources and include rural South Texas in statewide water planning.

- Co-authored House Joint Resolution (HJR) 7, creating the Texas Water Fund and securing $1 billion for rural water infrastructure.
- Leads efforts to develop brackish-water resources and include rural South Texas in statewide water planning.

Don and Karen reside in Uvalde, Texas. They have two grown sons and are grandparents.

Don is currently a member of the Texas House of Representatives. He was elected in 2024 and is serving his first term. He previously served as the mayor of Uvalde from 2018 to 2024.

Texas Rep. Don McLaughlin Jr. - Texas Tribune Directory

Supports developing brackish water resources to secure long-term water solutions for agriculture, industry, and families.

Advocates for stricter immigration policies and enhanced tracking of violent offenders.

As a state representative, led the passage of House Bill 33, The Uvalde Strong Act, to enhance school safety measures and ensure law enforcement is equipped to respond quickly to threats.

Supports education reform that emphasizes life skills, financial literacy, and career training over standardized testing.

Supports school vouchers and parental involvement in schools.

Wants to rein in runaway appraisals, cut wasteful government spending, and drive down tax bills to create a fair and transparent system for Texans.

Commits to protecting local jobs, lowering the cost of groceries and gas, and ensuring families can afford essential goods.

Co-sponsored legislation to deny bail to illegal immigrants charged with violent crimes and authored a bill to create a statewide database tracking violent offenders.

Supports legislation to permanently bar parole for child traffickers, increase penalties for violent crimes involving body armor, and require transparency when judges dismiss probable cause.

Supports strengthening border enforcement and closing loopholes in the justice system to protect Texas families.

Commits to education reform that emphasizes life skills, financial literacy, and career training over standardized testing.

Supports school vouchers and encourages parental involvement in schools.

Supports creating the Texas Water Fund and securing funding for long-term rural water infrastructure while developing brackish water resources.

Supports attracting new businesses to create jobs, expand opportunity, and improve quality of life.

Supports protecting local jobs and lowering grocery and gas prices.

As a state representative, helped pass laws to permanently bar parole for child traffickers, increase penalties for violent crimes involving body armor, and require transparency when judges dismiss probable cause.

Supports school vouchers, which are programs and policies that enable parents to use public school funds to access schools beyond their local option, including private schools.

Supports developing brackish water resources for sustainable agriculture, industry, and families.

As a state representative, supported Senate Bill 17, which prohibits "foreign adversaries" from purchasing land in Texas.

Buket Urgen

Isaac Brickman

Cecilia Castellano

- 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
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