Draft:Joanne Shofner

Joanne Shofner is the member-elect for district 11 of the Texas House of Representatives. She unseated incumbent Travis Clardy in the 2024 Republican primary.

2024 election
Shofner, who had served as president of the Nacogdoches County Republican Party, challenged Representative Travis Clardy in a contentious Republican primary. Clardy was an incumbent six-term representative who was elected to office in 2012, but had struck ire with the most conservative factions of the Texas Republican Party over his opposition to school vouchers. Shofner had accused Clardy of being "unloyal to the conservative party" and stood behind voucher programs, which was the most prominent distinction between the candidates. Pro-voucher special interest groups funded efforts to support Shofner's campaign and attack Clardy. She was endorsed by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Donald Trump, and Senator Ted Cruz. Shofner defeated Clardy in the primary with over 60% of the vote.

In the solidly Republican district, no candidate filed to run as a Democrat, and Shofner is expected to take office in January 2025.

Personal life
Shofner is a seventh-generation Texan and a small business owner. She is a Christian life coach for women in recovery from trauma. She previously was a manager for Hyatt Hotels and holds a degree in hotel and restaurant management from the University of Houston.