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I’m Erica Gillum, a lifelong Texan, businesswoman, and former Mayor of Hempstead, and I’m running to represent District 18 in the Texas Senate. I’m a Realtor, real estate coach, investor, and for more than two decades, I’ve dedicated myself to helping families and small businesses build stability, wealth, and opportunity.

Gillum for Texas

I’m Erica Gillum, a lifelong Texan, businesswoman, and former Mayor of Hempstead, and I’m running to represent District 18 in the Texas Senate. I’m a Realtor, real estate coach, investor, and for more than two decades, I’ve dedicated myself to helping families and small businesses build stability, wealth, and opportunity.

Erica Gillum works as a Realtor, real estate coach, and investor.

Erica works as a Realtor, real estate coach, and investor.

My father, a 4th-generation small businessman, served as Mayor of Hempstead in 1983 and as a Waller County Commissioner. From him, I learned the value of hard work, integrity, and responsibility, not just to your business, but to your community. His example inspired me to serve my own community, first on the Hempstead City Council from 2020 to 2022, and then as Mayor from 2022 to 2024.

As mayor, I focused on delivering real results for our city.

Erica served on the Hempstead City Council from 2020 to 2022 and as mayor of Hempstead from 2022 to 2024.

2026 Texas General Election

Texas was built by hardworking people who value independence and opportunity. I will focus on creating good-paying jobs, supporting small businesses, and offering training for young adults to enter the workforce. Unlike long-term incumbents who often favor big donors, I will prioritize policies that empower local families, strengthen our communities, and keep our economy growing from the ground up.

As mayor, I focused on delivering real results for our city. I helped secure over $9 million for citywide drainage and infrastructure projects, negotiated with H-E-B to ensure 25% of new distribution center jobs go to local residents, and with Caterpillar Mustang coming to Hempstead, creating quality jobs and strengthening our city’s tax base. A devoted Christian, my faith guides my values, my leadership, and my commitment to serving others.

Plans to create good-paying jobs, support small businesses, and offer workforce training for young adults.

As mayor, helped secure more than $9 million for drainage and infrastructure and negotiated for local residents to receive 25% of the new H-E-B distribution-center jobs.

- Plans to create good-paying jobs, support small businesses, and offer workforce training for young adults.
- As mayor, helped secure more than $9 million for drainage and infrastructure and negotiated for local residents to receive 25% of the new H-E-B distribution-center jobs.

Economy

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

Public Safety

Families in District 18 are feeling the squeeze from high housing costs, childcare expenses, and rising prescription drug prices. I will fight to reduce these costs so hardworking Texans can provide for their families without sacrificing quality of life. Our government should make life easier for families, not more expensive, that’s the Texas way.

Plans to reduce household costs, including prescription-drug prices.

- Plans to reduce household costs, including prescription-drug prices.

Healthcare

Strong schools are the foundation of Texas communities. I will fight to fully fund neighborhood schools, ensure teachers are paid what they deserve, and expand programs that prepare every child for success. Education is not a partisan issue; it’s about giving our children the tools to thrive, strengthen our workforce, and keep Texas competitive for generations to come.

Plans to fully fund neighborhood schools, raise teacher pay, and expand programs that prepare children for success.

- Plans to fully fund neighborhood schools, raise teacher pay, and expand programs that prepare children for success.

Education

Our rural communities and farmers are the backbone of Texas, yet decades of neglect have left them vulnerable to droughts, water shortages, and aging infrastructure. I will ensure adequate water supplies, reliable roads, and strong rural services, protecting farmers’ livelihoods and supporting families who depend on prosperous crops to feed their communities and sustain their futures. Texas was built by hardworking people who value independence and opportunity.

Plans to ensure adequate water supplies, reliable roads, and strong rural services to support farmers and rural families.

- Plans to ensure adequate water supplies, reliable roads, and strong rural services to support farmers and rural families.

Energy & the Environment

Voting & Elections

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Erica Gillum

Erica Gillum is from Texas. She has a bachelor's degree in political science and government from Prairie View A&M University. She is a devoted Christian.

Erica Gillum | BallotReady

Erica is a realtor, real estate coach, and investor. She has worked at Remax since 2022. She previously served as mayor of Hempstead from 2022 to 2024 and as a councilmember from 2020 to 2022. 

Erica is a former mayor of Hempstead and a former member of the Hempstead City Council. She served as a council member in 2022 and as mayor from 2022 to 2024.

THE BURLESON AND Lee counties' Democratic Parties

Erica Gillum is from Hempstead, Texas. She has a bachelor's degree in political science and government from Prairie View A&M University. She is a devoted Christian.

Erica is a realtor, real estate coach, and investor. She previously served as the mayor of Hempstead from 2022 to 2024. 

Erica previously served on the Hempstead City Council from 2020 to 2022 and as the mayor of Hempstead from 2022 to 2024.

For Candidate Erica Gillum on Issue economy:  
Plans to create good-paying jobs, support small businesses, and provide workforce training for young adults.

Favors fighting to reduce high housing costs, childcare expenses, and prescription drug prices to improve quality of life for families.

Supports fully funding neighborhood schools, ensuring teachers are paid fairly, and expanding programs for children's success.

Supports ensuring adequate water supplies, reliable roads, and strong rural services to protect farmers' livelihoods and support families dependent on agriculture.

Erica is from Hempstead, Texas. She attended Prairie View A&M University. She has a bachelor’s degree in political science and government from Prairie View A&M University.

Erica is a Realtor. She works at Remax, where she has been since 2022. She previously served as mayor of Hempstead from 2022 to 2024 and as a councilmember on the Hempstead City Council from 2020 to 2022.

Supports creating good-paying jobs, supporting small businesses, and offering training for young adults to enter the workforce.

Erica is a Realtor. She works at Remax, where she has been since 2022. She previously served as Mayor of Hempstead City from 2022 to 2024 and as a councilmember for Hempstead City in 2022.

Erica Gillum previously served on the Hempstead City Council from 2020 to 2022 and then as Mayor of Hempstead from 2022 to 2024.

Erica Gillum first held public office in 2020 when she was elected to the Hempstead City Council, serving a two-year term through 2022. She was then elected Mayor of Hempstead in 2022 and served until 2024. She is now the Democratic candidate for Texas State Senate District 18 in the 2026 primary election.

For Candidate Erica Gillum on Issue economy:  
Aims to reduce costs for hardworking Texans to help them provide for their families without sacrificing quality of life.

Supports fully funding neighborhood schools, ensuring teachers are paid fairly, and expanding programs to prepare children for success.

Buket Urgen

Mauricio Mendez

Lois W. Kolkhorst

- Your state senator represents the interests of your district in the Texas State Senate. The State Senate, along with the State House of Representatives, makes up your state lawmaking body: the Texas Legislature.
- Your state senator can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws after going through the legislative process.
- There are 31 Texas state senators, each representing a single district with a constituency of around 1 million.
- State senators are elected to 4-year terms and one 2-year term per decade, and there are no term limits.
- They are paid a salary of $7,200/year and a per diem of $221/day.

Your representative and state lawmaker in the Texas State Senate.