Joanne Shofner

Republican | Texas

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Candidate Profile*

Joanne Shofner — State Representative 11 (Texas Republican Primary | March 3, 2026) Joanne Shofner — State Rep., Dist. 11 (Texas General | November 5, 2024) Joanne Shofner — State Rep., Dist. 11 (Texas Primary | March 5, 2024)
State Representative, District 11 Texas General and Special General SD 22 | November 3, 2026
Ratings & research below apply to this race only — Select to see 3 other races

Conservative

*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.

BIOGRAPHY

EDUCATION

University of Houston, Houston, Texas, BS in Hotel and Restaurant Management, 1990

WORK & MILITARY

Candidate did not provide

AFFILIATIONS

Nacogdoches County Republican Women, Texas Federation of Republican Women, National Federation of Republican Women, President of NCRW, member

Christ Church Nacogdoches, Bible Study Creator, Teacher, Prayer ministry, Finance committee

Nacogdoches High School, Christ Episcopal School, Regents Academy, Texas Homeschool Coalition, Substitute teacher, Parents groups, member

Cum Concilio Club, VP, the oldest Women’s federation club in Texas

Daughters of the American Revolution, Daughters of the Republic of Texas, Member

POLITICAL OFFICES HELD

State Representative HD 11, 2025-2026

President Nacogdoches County Republican Women, 2023-2025

POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT

State Representative HD 11, 2026-2029

ENDORSEMENTS*

*These endorsements were received after the deadline and were not considered in the Panel Evaluations and are for additional educational purposes only.
CONSERVATIVE (15)

Young Conservatives of Texas

Texas Right to Life TRL PAC

National Rifle Association NRA-PVF

Texas Home School Coalition THSC PAC

Texas Values Action

OTHER (6)

Greg Abbott

Texas Oil and Gas Association TXOGA PAC

Texas Association of Business TXBIZ PAC

*Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas CLEAT PAC

*Cattle Raisers PAC of the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association

REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (4)

President Trump

Govenor Greg Abbott

Senator Ted Cruz

Senate Candidate Ken Paxton

SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS

CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (13)

Briscoe Cain (2026)

Kason Huddleston (2026)

Grassroots America - We the People PAC (2025)

Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2025)

Paulette Carson (2025)

RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (7)

Dan Patrick (2024)

Family Empowerment Coalition PAC (2024)

Gary Gates (2024)

Greg Abbott (2024)

Mayes Middleton (2024)


LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)

Texas Impact (2024)

OTHER INFORMATION

The 2025 Texas House from right to left according to analysis by Rice University’s James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy. 

The 2023 Texas House from right to left according to analysis by Rice University’s James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy. 

Candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024.

QUESTIONNAIRE

RIGHT TO LIFE

Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).

Strongly Agree

Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?

There is no reason for an elected abortion

Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.

Strongly Agree

The lives of human embryos created through artificial methods ought to be protected from purposeful destruction.

Strongly Agree

The Comstock Act, which bans interstate transportation of abortion-inducing drugs, should be enforced.

Strongly Agree


ECONOMY

What is your position on the minimum wage?

Whatever the owner and the employee negotiates within reason.

Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.

Strongly Agree

List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.

1) regulatory over-site of government ending with a zero balance. 2) the Budget needs to be taken to zero and built back up every 7 years. 3) Every agency needs to go through sunset review to prove their existence. They also need their own investigative department looking at employees and receivers.


RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?

The intention to that statement was that government should stay out of churches, not the other way around.

Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.

Strongly Disagree


HEALTHCARE

What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.

D When government gets involved, the prices skyrocket and the corruption deepens.

The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.

Strongly Disagree


NATIONAL SECURITY

The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.

Strongly Agree

As well as Islamism.

Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?

It’s our closest ally in the Middle East surrounded by Islamic countries. Our Lord was born in Israel, died, resurrected and will return at that location.


IMMIGRATION

I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.

Strongly Disagree


EDUCATION

I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.

Strongly Agree

Foreign governments should be prohibited from funding American education.

Strongly Agree


VALUES

Government should recognize and support the fundamental right and essential duty of parents to direct their child's health and educational well-being.

Strongly Agree

Attempts to physically or socially transition a child to the opposite sex constitute child abuse.

Strongly Agree

Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.

Strongly Agree

I support the expansion of gambling in my state.

Strongly Disagree

Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.

I believe and follow the Messiah, Jesus Christ and His Word. My values, decisions and life flow out of that.


ELECTIONS AND VOTING

People should be able to vote without photo identification.

Strongly Disagree


EQUALITY

Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.

Strongly Disagree

Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.

Strongly Agree


ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Man-made climate change is a global threat and requires urgent political action.

Strongly Disagree

What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?

Oil, gas and now nuclear


ABOUT YOU

When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?

Very Conservative

Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.

No

Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.

No


CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY

What should be the goal of the criminal justice system?

to protect the public

Government has a responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.

Strongly Agree

Sharia law should not be accepted or incorporated in any form within the legal framework of the United States.

Strongly Agree


2ND AMENDMENT

What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?

No restrictions

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