Cole Hefner
RepublicanState Representative
Cole Hefner serves as State Representative for Texas House of Representatives District 5. This RepWatchr starter profile is sourced from official Texas Legislature profile data and OpenStates public records.
Red Flags (4)
Property tax reform votes fell short of campaign rhetoric
Rep. Hefner campaigned on cutting property taxes and limiting local government spending. While he supported the 2023 property tax relief package, constituents in Hopkins, Rains, Van Zandt, Wood, and Camp counties have seen limited real-world tax savings as rising appraisals continue to offset rate reductions.
Why It Matters
Property tax relief was a central campaign promise. When the reforms passed do not deliver meaningful savings to rural homeowners, voters should evaluate whether their representative fought for strong enough measures or settled for what leadership offered.
Campaign contributions from special interests with legislative business
Campaign finance filings show Rep. Hefner has received contributions from PACs representing industries including energy, agriculture, and real estate that had active legislation before committees on which he served. These include companies with operations in his East Texas district.
Why It Matters
When elected officials receive campaign money from industries they regulate through committee work, it raises questions about whose interests drive their votes. East Texas voters deserve transparency about these financial relationships.
Rural broadband promise slow to materialize
Rep. Hefner has listed rural broadband expansion as a priority since taking office in 2017. Despite years of advocacy, many communities across HD-5 - particularly in Rains and Camp counties - still lack reliable high-speed internet access, raising questions about the effectiveness of his legislative efforts on this issue.
Why It Matters
Reliable internet is no longer a luxury - it is essential for education, healthcare, and economic opportunity. Rural East Texans were promised broadband expansion and have a right to ask why progress has been so slow after nearly a decade of promises.
Voted with House leadership on school voucher measures
Rep. Hefner supported school choice measures that rural education advocates in his district warned could harm small public school districts. Many rural districts in HD-5 depend on full enrollment for funding, and diverting students and dollars to private alternatives could threaten their viability.
Why It Matters
Rural public schools in East Texas serve as community anchors. Votes that could redirect funding away from these schools affect not just education but the economic health of entire small towns across HD-5.
Vote-weighted left/right chart
Vote record pending
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none confidence
Master profile buildout
80% complete from the current public data files.
0/0 scorecard votes mapped to the left/right axis
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Public vote record snapshot
Recent federal roll calls
Source-backed roll-call votes loaded from official House and Senate records. These are not automatically scored left or right until issue mapping is reviewed.
120
Votes loaded
111
Yea
7
Nay
0
Present
2
Not voting
house roll 4171 | 2025-06-02
SB 293
SB 293 | 114 Yeas, 26 Nays, 4 Present, not voting
house roll 4170 | 2025-06-02
SUSPEND ALL NECESSARY RULES
SUSPEND ALL NECESSARY RULES | 127 Yeas, 15 Nays, 1 Present, not voting
house roll 4170 | 2025-06-02
SUSPEND ALL NECESSARY RULES
SUSPEND ALL NECESSARY RULES | 127 Yeas, 15 Nays, 1 Present, not voting
house roll 4169 | 2025-06-02
HCR 172
HCR 172 | 132 Yeas, 0 Nays, 1 Present, not voting
house roll 4168 | 2025-06-02
SCR 55
SCR 55 | 126 Yeas, 12 Nays, 2 Present, not voting
house roll 4167 | 2025-06-02
HCR 171
HCR 171 | 138 Yeas, 0 Nays, 1 Present, not voting
house roll 4166 | 2025-06-02
ROLL CALL
ROLL CALL | 148 Present, 0 Absent, 2 Absent, Excused
house roll 4165 | 2025-06-01
SB 2024
SB 2024 | 96 Yeas, 35 Nays, 2 Present, not voting
Public statements
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80%
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Public Sources
Last verified: 2026-04-27
In the News
East Texas lawmakers get seats on general aviation review
State lawmakers are reviewing smaller Texas airports, regional air service, aviation workforce shortages, disaster response, and infrastructure needs that can matter to rural East Texas.
Apr 29, 2026Texas Senate Advances Appraisal Cap Tightening to 3.5% as Property Tax Debate Heats Up
The Senate passed SB 780, lowering the annual property appraisal cap from 10% to 3.5% for all properties. The bill goes further than the House version and sets up a conference committee fight.
Apr 12, 2026Operation Lone Star Costs Top $11 Billion as East Texas Reps Push for More Federal Reimbursement
Texas has now spent over $11 billion on its border security operation. East Texas federal and state officials are divided on strategy as the National Guard deployment enters its fifth year.
Apr 7, 2026Public Discussion
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