Kolkhorst Announces Intention to Run for Hegar's Seat

State Rep. Lois Kolkhorst has announced plans to run for a Texas Senate seat that has yet to open.

Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, said Thursday that she would campaign to replace Sen. Glenn Hegar in Senate District 18 – if Hegar, the Republican nominee for comptroller, wins his race in November.

Kolkhorst said she would formally launch her campaign on Aug. 12.

“When he wins the general election this fall, our state senate seat will be vacated and a special election will be called,” she said in an email to supporters. “After much prayer and consideration with my husband Jim and our two children Lois Kate and Jake, we decided the issues facing Texas are too big to ignore.”

Hegar faces Democratic nominee Mike Collier, a Houston businessman who has not previously held elected office.

Kolkhorst's announcement is not a major surprise. Kolkhorst last month released a statement drawing attention to the $792,000 in her campaign war chest, as of the end of June. She noted that her cash on hand has increased by $250,000 since her most recent campaign finance report.

“She is heavily considering a run for State Senate,” the statement said, “with this recent report, she is the clear financial front runner with none of her potential opponents coming close to the numbers she posted.”

Over the first six months of 2014, Kolkhorst raised $190,809, a total paced by a $100,000 loan made by Kolkhorst to her campaign on June 30.