Rockwall County Democrats announce local candidates for upcoming races

Rockwall County Democrats named Ericka Ledferd for State Board of Education District 9 and Orlando Lopez for House District 33 as the party began lining up candidates for the 2026 ballot. Keenen Colbert was also introduced for another state-level race, giving voters an early look at the names Democrats intended to put before Rockwall County precincts.

Susie Stansel chairs the Rockwall County Democratic Party, which says it is the official Democratic committee in Rockwall County, Texas. The party says its mission is to inspire and encourage Democrats to take part in party affairs, and that starts with finding people willing to file, campaign and put their names on the ballot.

The candidate roster matters because District 9 and House District 33 are concrete contests Rockwall County voters will follow through sample ballots and election notices. The county elections office says its primary elections were set for March 3, 2026, and Rockwall County election information, including sample ballots and candidate information, is posted online through the county elections office. That makes the candidate rollout more than a party announcement. It is part of the machinery that tells voters who may appear in their precincts and which offices will be in play.

Ledferd’s race for the State Board of Education reaches beyond county lines, but it still touches Rockwall County families through education policy and the board’s influence over public schools. Lopez’s bid for House District 33 puts a local name into one of the legislative contests that shape state taxes, roads, schools and other issues that land on county voters’ desks. Colbert’s entry in another state-level race added a third name to the Democratic bench.

The Texas Democratic Party maintains county-party and run-for-office pages for Democrats across Texas, underscoring that county recruitment is part of a broader effort to field candidates in every cycle. In Rockwall County, where growth has kept local politics closely watched, the rollout signals that campaign activity is starting to take shape well before voters cast ballots.