Texas House District 17 2026

Compare candidates running in this Texas federal race. Review their positions, voting records, campaign promises, and donor information.

Mary Elizabeth Klenz

Party: Democrat

Stan Gerdes

Party: Republican

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Texas House District 17

Election: Nov 3, 2026Updated: Apr 10, 2026
📊Polling
No public polling available for this state legislative race as of April 2026.
safe r— Not publicly rated by major outlets as of April 2026

District 17 is a strongly Republican district covering rural central Texas (Bastrop, Burleson, Caldwell, Lee, and Milam counties). The Republican has won decisively in recent elections (66.2% in 2024), making Democratic gains unlikely unless there is a major shift in national politics or candidate strength.

Mary Elizabeth KlenzD
Stan GerdesR

Summary

Dr. Mary Elizabeth Klenz is a physician specializing in obstetrics and gynecology with over 29 years of medical experience. She grew up in North Carolina and joined the Peace Corps after college, where she met her future husband in Southern Africa. She attended medical school at Duke University and completed residency training in OB/GYN at New York University. She spent 25 years practicing in the Rio Grande Valley (McAllen, Edinburg, Mission) before retiring and moving to a ranch outside Giddings, Texas with her husband Kyle. She is now running for Texas House District 17 as a Democrat, having won the Democratic primary on March 3, 2026 with 61% of the vote against Frank Gomez III (24%) and Robert Salter (15%).

Stan Gerdes is a fifth-generation Texan born January 23, 1986, who grew up in Waco and graduated from the University of Texas in 2008. He worked over a decade with former Governor Rick Perry, including as a senior advisor to Secretary of Energy Rick Perry in the Trump administration (2017-2019), where he worked on energy independence initiatives. He was elected to Smithville City Council in May 2021 and to the Texas House in 2022, assuming office on January 10, 2023. He is a member of the National Rifle Association.

View Mary Elizabeth Klenz's Full Profile →View Stan Gerdes's Full Profile →

Campaign Promises

Environment
  • Address water shortage crisis
Healthcare
  • Build healthier, stronger rural district
Immigration
  • Smart, constitutional border and immigration policy
Education
  • Restore public education funding
Other
  • Restore local control to communities
Economy
  • Revitalize working class and small businesses
Economy
  • Property tax cuts
Immigration
  • Border security and immigration enforcement
Other
  • Protecting children from 'radical ideologies'
  • Election integrity
  • Pro-second amendment
Environment
  • Water infrastructure investment

Key Issue Positions

Healthcare Access in Rural Areas
Strong advocate for rural healthcare as a physician with 25 years rural practice experience
As a physician committed to rural health care, Klenz emphasizes building a healthier district where rural residents have healthcare access. Her 25-year career in the Rio Grande Valley demonstrates commitment to underserved communities.
Water Resources Management
Addressing water shortage and resource sustainability
Emphasizes that water shortage is a coming crisis requiring immediate action and sustainable management. Website notes water and resource management as priority.
Education Funding and Support
Strong public education advocate
Believes public schools are backbone of strong communities and deserve proper funding and local decision-making authority.
Border Security
Strong pro-border enforcement, anti-illegal immigration
States he has 'helped President Trump halt illegal crossings at our border' and enabled sheriffs to work directly with ICE. Promises to continue fighting for secure borders.
Education Policy
Conservative education priorities including school choice, parental rights, and restrictions on curriculum content
Voted to table amendment placing school vouchers on November ballot, opposed accountability pause on STAAR testing, supported library material review processes, supported bans on gender-affirming care discussions in schools.
Water Resources
Protecting rural water resources and agricultural interests
Emphasizes protecting groundwater, investing in new water projects, and ensuring rural communities have reliable and sustainable water supply.

Top Donors

Campaign funding data not published
Insufficient public data availableUnknown
Texas state legislative candidates have different reporting requirements than federal candidates
Donors reported (January 22, 2026)
$364,136Total Contributions
Total campaign contributions reported as of January 22, 2026
Cash on Hand
$174,506Campaign funds
Available cash as of January 22, 2026

Contradictions

No contradictions documented.

Claim: In March 2025, Gerdes stated in introducing the FURRIES Act that reports of 'non-human behavior' by students prompted the bill because 'we cannot allow these types of role-playing distractions to affect our students.' He claimed this was happening at Smithville ISD and 'districts across the state.'
Contradiction: At a May 2, 2025 House Public Education Committee hearing, when pressed by Rep. James Talarico (D-Round Rock) to name a school where litter boxes were confirmed being used, Gerdes admitted he could not provide one. According to reporting, Rep. Talarico noted that Smithville ISD held a board meeting where they stated they had no concerns about students behaving as anything but typical children, and no litter boxes were found. When Gerdes claimed the superintendent told him about a student 'exhibiting non-human behavior' in November, Smithville ISD publicly refuted this account, saying no such behavior exists and no litter boxes have been found on campus.

What Opponents Say

Republican primary/general election opponents

Democrat running in heavily Republican district with R+14 lean

District 17 is strongly Republican; incumbent won 2024 general election with 66.2% of vote.

Democratic Primary Candidates (Frank Gomez III, Robert Salter)

The widening wealth gap driven by Republican policy is hitting rural Texas hardest. Investing in schools, healthcare, property tax relief, water and electricity gives our children a reason to build their futures here.

Democratic primary candidates in 2026 criticized Gerdes' record on rural economic development and wealth inequality.

Democratic opponents in 2024 (Desiree Venable)

False narratives and misinformation have been allowed to 'divide our nation.' Politicians should be held accountable 'for their failures.'

2024 Democratic opponent criticized Gerdes' messaging and called for political accountability.

Endorsements

Independents Voting in the Primaries (activist group)organization
President Donald Trumpindividual
Governor Greg Abbottindividual
Senator Ted Cruzindividual
National Rifle Association (NRA)organization