First elected to the Texas Senate in 2006, Robert Nichols represents 16 counties including the greater part of East Texas and Montgomery County.

Nichols serves as vice chair of the Intergovernmental Relations Committee and sits on the Transportation and Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, and Nominations Committees.

Drawing from his eight years of experience as a Texas transportation commissioner, Nichols spearheaded major transportation reforms during the 80th Legislative Session, his first session as a senator. He also authored or sponsored significant legislation to protect homeowners, reduce Medicaid fraud, prevent child fatalities, and stiffen penalties for crimes to conceal murder. He was honored as a "fighter for free enterprise" by the Texas Association of Business.

Nichols is a small businessman from Jacksonville, Texas. He married his high school sweetheart, Donna, and they are the proud parents of three children: Brittney, Joshua, and Collynn'rae. Nichols currently serves as a board member for Lon Morris College, the East Texas Medical Center, and the Nan Travis Hospital Foundation, and he is a member of the First United Methodist Church in Jacksonville.