Following the announcement that State Senator Robert Nichols will not seek re-election, State Representative Trent Ashby (R–Lufkin) announced today that he will run to represent District 3 in the Texas Senate.
“For nearly two decades, Senator Nichols has been a steady and respected voice for East and Southeast Texas,” Ashby said. “Throughout his time in office, he has exemplified what it means to be a public servant – leading with humility, integrity, and deep commitment to the people he represents. His legacy is one of quiet strength and principled service, and the people of Senate District 3 owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude for his years of faithful service.”
As the State Representative for House District 9, Ashby serves a six-county district that falls entirely within the boundaries of Senate District 3. Over the course of his service in the Texas House, Ashby has built a reputation as a principled, effective conservative for rural Texas—someone who leads with integrity and delivers meaningful results. Born and raised on a dairy and diversified livestock operation in Rusk County, Ashby brings a lifelong connection to the region he hopes to continue serving in the Texas Senate. His East Texas roots continue to shape his public service, grounded in faith, family, and a commitment to putting his constituents first.
“It’s been the honor of a lifetime to represent the people of East Texas in the Texas House,” Ashby said. “But this is a time of great change and opportunity for our region, and we need a strong, experienced voice in the Senate—someone who will defend our conservative values, fight for rural communities, and ensure the region remains a priority in Austin.”
In the Texas Senate, Ashby will continue to defend the conservative values that define East and Southeast Texas, standing up for private property rights, strengthening law enforcement, supporting public schools and teachers, and protecting our constitutional freedoms. He’ll work to strengthen rural communities through investments in infrastructure, such as rural roadways, water systems, and emergency preparedness, while also safeguarding our children from harmful ideologies in the classroom and dangerous online threats. Ashby will fight efforts by foreign adversaries like Communist China to buy up Texas land and support President Trump’s plan to fully secure the border, enforce immigration laws, and deport violent criminals.
Ashby currently represents a six-county region that includes Angelina, Houston, Polk, San Augustine, Trinity, and Tyler Counties. Throughout his campaign, Ashby will be working to earn the support of voters living in Anderson, Cherokee, Hardin, Henderson, Jasper, part of Jefferson, Liberty, Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange, Sabine, and Shelby counties in Texas Senate District 3.
