TRINITY COUNTY – Last week, Paulette Carson, a resident of Trinity County, announced a bid to challenge Rep. Trent Ashby in the coming 2026 Republican primary.
Carson, a small business owner and cattle rancher, is vying for Ashby’s seat in the Texas House of Representatives, to represent Texas House District 9, which encompasses Tyler, Trinity, Angelina, Houston, Polk and San Augustine counties. Ashby also announced a re-election campaign, following Carson’s announcement.
Growing government and taxation are two points Carson addressed in her campaign announcement.
“Every Republican agrees that government at every level is too large. That growth threatens our families because it places more regulations on us and requires us to pay for it with ever higher taxation,” she said.
Carson ran in 2024 against Ashby in the GOP primary and received 17.8% of the vote.
Carson said that one issue that has frequently been a topic of constituent need is property tax reform. She said that the legislature can solve the problem if it is put on the table.
“I hear Texans throughout this district tell me that they’re tired of property taxes and want to eliminate them because every Texan should truly own their home and land. I agree,” she said.
Carson also said in her campaign announcement that the state’s budget, which increased by a figure of $90 billion between 2021 and 2025, could feature property tax reform with that multi-billion increase put toward property taxes “instead of more government.”
On her website, carsonfortexas.com, Carson listed several campaign priorities, and under the point about property taxes, she stated that they can be eliminated, in part, “by drastically cutting spending at every level,” and added that she supports a “DOGE” program in Texas government.
Other issues that she listed on her website as priorities include border security and election integrity.
Ashby said that his top priority is “delivering real results for the folks back home,” and cited 13 bills he authored and passed during the last legislative session, including Audrii’s Law, named after an 11-year-old murder victim from Livingston, which closed loopholes in the statewide sex offender registry.
Ashby, a Lufkin Republican, has represented District 9 since 2013. He has represented Tyler County since 2023 when redistricting relocated HD 19, which did encompass Tyler, Polk, Hardin, Jasper and Newton counties, and was represented by James White (R-Hillister), who left office in 2022.
The party primaries in Texas for 2026 have a March 3 election day, with May 26 designated for run-offs. The general election is on Nov. 3, 2026.
