Who Cole is
He's held the District 5 seat since 2017, and Trump personally sent him a letter thanking him for his vote and giving him a "Complete and Total Endorsement."
About Cole
Cole Hefner, a Republican from Mount Pleasant, has represented East Texas's District 5 (Camp, Rains, Titus, Upshur, Wood, and part of Smith counties) since 2017 and is now seeking a sixth term. He wrote the state law that made illegal voting a felony again and backed the 2025 private-school voucher program, and this cycle he's campaigning on property taxes and water rights.
Where they stand
- Reproductive RightsDisagree
- Immigration & BorderAgree
- Housing & AffordabilityUnknown
- Public EducationDisagree
- Election IntegrityDisagree
- HealthcareUnknown
- Social Security & MedicareUnknown
- Gun PolicyAgree
- Climate & EnergyUnknown
Also on the ballot for TX State House • District 5
Every candidate on this ballot line appears here, in alphabetical order. Tap a name to read more.
Hector GarzaFor years he led the Smith County Democratic Party as its chairman before stepping down in November 2025 to run for the seat himself.
About Hector
Hector Garza spent years as chairman of the Smith County Democratic Party, working to unify local Democrats and grow voter turnout, before resigning that post in November 2025 to run for Texas House District 5. He says he's running because of concerns about civil stability, education, healthcare, and care for veterans in his community.