Shannon Dicely, a League City Democrat, is running for Texas State Senate District 11 in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. Republican Dennis Paul is also running for the seat.
Asked why she is seeking office, Dicely said in our candidate questionnaire: "After battling breast cancer during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic and having to rely on the kindness of strangers throughout my treatment, I wanted to help my community more. The thought of others receiving the same devastating news as me without the safety nets and support system that I had moved me to want to do everything I can to systematically help those patients."
Candidate information
Residence: According to her campaign website, Dicely has been a resident of Senate District 11 for nearly 20 years. She moved to League City shortly before Hurricane Ike hit in 2008, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Family: "Happily married for 17 years with 2 children," Dicely said in our questionnaire.
Education: Asked about her education, Dicely said in our questionnaire: "BA, Mathematics - Drew University" and "MA, Political Science - Sam Houston State University."
Cancer survivor: Dicely said on her campaign website: "In 2020, during the COVID pandemic, she received a breast cancer diagnosis and spent the next year and a half in aggressive treatment, facing all her appointments alone during lockdown."
Experience and public service
Asked about her occupation and work history, Dicely said in our questionnaire: "Most recently, I was a Coordinator for the Center for Civic Engagement at Lone Star College. However, I left that position to focus on my campaign full time. Prior to that, I had been a stay at home parent for nearly 13 years and volunteered in different capacities within my community."
On previous public service, Dicely said: "I have not held office but I have been on my city's Bond Ad Hoc Committee and my children's school district's Superintendent Advisory Committee. I was also my POA's treasurer for 6 years."
Asked what accomplishments show she can handle the job, Dicely said: "Being a parent gave me a front-row seat to how government decisions affect families … Seventeen years after I graduated college, I returned for my master's degree to deepen my understanding of voting rights and ultimately ended up working in civic engagement."
On the issues
Asked about differences between herself and her opponent, Dicely said in our questionnaire: "I've worked hard to understand the different experiences of people across SD-11 and how those experiences translate into what they need from their state senator … That's one of the things that sets me apart from my opponent. He has held office but has never held a town hall for the people he represents." She added: "I also refuse corporate PAC money because my only obligation in Austin will be to the people of this district."
On education, Dicely's campaign website says she supports raising teacher pay, expanding career and technical education programs, increasing per-student school funding based on enrollment rather than attendance, and guaranteeing paid parental leave for educators.
On healthcare, her campaign website says she supports expanding Medicaid, lowering prescription drug prices, reducing maternal and infant mortality rates, and expanding mental health services.
On voting rights, Dicely says she supports repealing SB1, expanding online voter registration and mail-in ballot access, and ending gerrymandering through nonpartisan redistricting, according to her campaign website.
On affordability, her campaign website says she supports raising the minimum wage, tackling rising insurance costs, and keeping energy affordable through grid reliability investments.
Endorsements: Dicely's campaign lists endorsements from the Houston Chronicle editorial board, Planned Parenthood Texas Votes PAC, Everytown for Gun Safety, Texas AFL-CIO, former state Sen. Wendy Davis, and others, according to her campaign website.
