Nichols announces he will not seek reelection, Ashby to run for State Senate seat
AUSTIN (Nexstar) — State Sen. Robert Nichols announced Tuesday that he will not seek reelection in Senate District 3, based in East and Southeast Texas. Nichols has served as the senator from SD 3 since 2007.
Nichols, who is 80-years-old, said in a statement that he is honored to have served the people of SD 3.
“It had always been my goal to make things better, to stop bad things, to do it in a way I thought was right, never forgetting who I represented,” Nichols wrote.
Immediately after Nichols announced his retirement, State Rep. Trent Ashby, R-Lufkin, announced he would run for the seat. First elected to the House in 2012, Ashby currently represents House District 9, also based in East Texas. In a statement, his campaign said he has a proven track record of delivering results for rural Texans.
“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,” the statement reads.
If Ashby wins the Republican primary in 2026, he is very likely to retain SD 3 for Republicans. Nichols won reelection in the district by 56 points in 2022.
The Republican primary for SD 3 will be held March 3, 2026, and the general election will be held Nov. 3, 2026.
