Contributed Article | July 6, 2026
Cuero, Tx -Erica Gillum, former mayor of Hempstead and Democratic candidate for Texas State Senate District 18, will visit Cuero on Tuesday, July 7, where she is scheduled to speak at the monthly meeting of the DeWitt/LaVaca Democratic Women.
Gillum served as Mayor of Hempstead from 2022 to 2024 and previously held a seat on the Hempstead City Council from 2020 to 2022. Outside of public office, she works as a Realtor, real estate coach, and investor. She is a graduate of Prairie View A&M University.
A meet‑and‑greet with Gillum will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by the organization’s regular 6:00 p.m. meeting. The event will be held at the GVEC Community Room, located at 1015 E. Broadway in Cuero. Parking and entrance are located at the back of the building.
Gillum’s Background and Senate Bid
Gillum is seeking the District 18 seat in the 2026 general election, a district that spans portions of Waller, Austin, Colorado, Fayette, Lavaca, Gonzales, Jackson, Matagorda, Wharton, and DeWitt counties. She secured the Democratic nomination earlier this year with 100 percent of the vote, according to certified results from the Texas Secretary of State.
Her campaign highlights her experience in local government, particularly her work on infrastructure, drainage improvements, and economic development during her tenure as mayor. Gillum’s administration secured more than $9 million in infrastructure funding for Hempstead and negotiated job‑placement agreements tied to new commercial developments, including an H‑E‑B distribution center and Caterpillar Mustang operations.
Gillum’s stated priorities include public education funding, water and natural resource management, cost‑of‑living concerns, and workforce development—issues she says are central to rural and small‑town communities across District 18.
Significance for DeWitt County
Gillum’s upcoming visit provides DeWitt County residents an opportunity to hear directly from a candidate seeking to represent the region in the Texas Legislature. The District 18 race, which includes incumbent Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, is expected to draw attention across South and Southeast Texas as communities continue to navigate growth, infrastructure needs, and rural policy challenges.