Rockwall pastor Huddleston wins GOP nomination for State Board of Education

Kason Huddleston’s Republican nomination for State Board of Education District 9 put a Rockwall County pastor in line to help decide what students learn, which textbooks schools buy and how Texas sets graduation rules. For parents in Rockwall County, the race now moves from party politics to the much larger question of who will help write the standards that reach every public school classroom.

Huddleston celebrated the nomination at a Rockwall Republican Men’s Club event, where local Republican leaders praised his conservative approach to education. State Rep. Katrina Pierson backed him and attendees framed the contest as a fight for conservative influence in Texas schools, a message aimed squarely at families worried about curriculum battles and instructional materials.

The post carries real weight. The Texas State Board of Education has 15 elected members, and each one represents about 1.8 million Texans. The board sets curriculum standards, reviews and adopts instructional materials, establishes graduation requirements, oversees the Texas Permanent School Fund and reviews proposed charter school awards. That means the District 9 seat can affect everything from classroom readings to the rules students must meet before they graduate.

Rockwall County sits in District 9, which is currently held by Republican Keven Ellis of Lufkin. Ellis did not seek reelection in 2026, leaving the seat open. Huddleston won the Republican primary for the district on March 3, 2026, with 97,567 votes, or 58.4%, defeating Rachel Hogue and Stephen Yearout.

Huddleston’s campaign materials describe him as the founding senior pastor of Freedom Place Church in Rowlett, a role he has held for 23 years. They also say he was appointed Rockwall County Republican Chaplain in 2022, founded the Rowlett Republican Men’s Club in 2023 and serves as State Chaplain for the Republican Party of Texas. The Rockwall County Republican Men’s Club describes itself as a conservative political organization focused on advancing conservative ideals and protecting the Constitutional Republic.

Huddleston’s general election matchup is now set against Democrat Ericka Ledferd on Nov. 3, 2026. For Rockwall County voters, the contest will determine who speaks for the region on one of Texas’ most powerful education boards, at a moment when school policy, textbook fights and charter school oversight remain front-line issues across the state.