State Representative, District 49
March 3, 2026 · State House District 49; Texas · State house district · primary
How do we calculate vote impact?
Vote impact = representation (how much weight one vote carries here, the smaller the district's population, the higher the representation) + decisiveness (how likely this race is to be close, based on past results and number of candidates).
Representation: Average · 64 out of 100
This district is mid-sized for its type, so each vote carries average weight. About 200,815 people live here.
score = 100 × ln(largest population ÷ this district's) ÷ ln(largest ÷ smallest), rounded to 2 decimals = 100 × ln(240,390 ÷ 200,815) ÷ ln(240,390 ÷ 181,544) = 64.07, comparing state house districts in TX (grades: 66+ high, 33+ average, otherwise low)
Decisiveness: Unknown
No past results for this contest yet.
Average representation + unknown decisiveness → Average vote impact.
Some data is missing, so this rating is based on partial information and capped at "High".
This office is responsible for:
- Voting on state laws and the state budget
- Representing their district in the statehouse
- Serving on committees that shape bills before final votes
- Helping district residents deal with state agencies
Affected Areas: Environment and Public Health, Reduce Wealth Gap, Anti-Corruption, Government Efficiency, Healthcare Affordability, Government Spending Reduction, Public Safety and Crime Control, Housing Affordability, Social Programs and Welfare, Public Education Quality, Gun Control, Women's Reproductive Rights, Election Integrity, Personal Income Tax Reduction, Data Privacy, Civil Rights, Corporate Accountability, Public Infrastructure
Candidates
Gigs Hodges
Democratic · declared
Gigs Hodges is an educator, organizer, former Texas legislative director and staffer, and Democratic candidate for Texas House District 49. He has worked in the Legislature across two regular sessions and six special sessions.
Records: Civil Rights 2 for, Housing Affordability 1 for, Public Education Quality 1 for, Public Safety and Crime Control 1 for, Reduce Wealth Gap 1 for
Josh Reyna
Democratic · declared
Josh Reyna is an attorney, Texas Senate chief of staff and general counsel, and Democratic candidate for Texas House District 49. He has sixteen years of legislative experience, including work on housing legislation.
Records: Environment and Public Health 1 for, Healthcare Affordability 1 for, Housing Affordability 2 for, Public Education Quality 1 for, Public Infrastructure 1 for
Kathie Tovo
Democratic · declared
Kathie Tovo is a former Austin City Council member, former Austin mayor pro tem, university lecturer, and Democratic candidate for Texas House District 49. She served on the City Council from 2011 through 2023 and as mayor pro tem from 2015 through 2019.
Records: Civil Rights 2 for, Environment and Public Health 2 for, Healthcare Affordability 2 for, Housing Affordability 2 for, Public Education Quality 3 for, Public Infrastructure 1 for
Kimmie Ellison
Democratic · declared
Kimmie Ellison is a nurse, clinical program director, and Democratic candidate for Texas House District 49. She directs a hospital program serving uninsured breast-cancer patients and holds a government degree from the University of Texas at Austin.
Records: Civil Rights 1 for, Environment and Public Health 1 for, Healthcare Affordability 1 for, Housing Affordability 1 for, Public Education Quality 1 for, Public Infrastructure 1 for
Montserrat Garibay
Democratic · declared
Montserrat Garibay is a former Austin ISD pre-K teacher, labor leader, former U.S. Department of Education official, and Democratic nominee for Texas House District 49. She previously served as an assistant deputy secretary at the Department of Education.
Records: Civil Rights 2 for, Environment and Public Health 1 for, Housing Affordability 2 for, Public Education Quality 1 for, Public Infrastructure 1 for
Robin Jennifer Lerner
Democratic · declared
Robin Jennifer Lerner is a former U.S. State Department official, attorney, nonprofit executive, and Democratic candidate for Texas House District 49. Her experience includes service as a State Department appointee, ACLU attorney, and chief executive of the Texas International Education Consortium.
Records: Environment and Public Health 1 for, Government Spending Reduction 1 for, Housing Affordability 1 for, Public Education Quality 1 for, Women's Reproductive Rights 1 for
Sam Slade
Democratic · declared
Sam Slade is a Democratic political organizer and candidate for Texas House District 49. He has worked as a field director for Barack Obama's presidential campaigns and Julián Castro's presidential campaign, teaches at the University of Texas at Austin, and serves as a Travis County Democratic precinct chair.
Records: Civil Rights 1 for, Corporate Accountability 1 for, Government Spending Reduction 1 for, Gun Control 1 for, Public Education Quality 1 for, Public Infrastructure 1 for, Reduce Wealth Gap 1 for, Social Programs and Welfare 1 for
Shenghao "Daniel" Wang
Democratic · declared
Shenghao "Daniel" Wang is an electricity-regulation attorney, elected Place 2 member of the Travis Central Appraisal District Board of Directors, and Democratic candidate for Texas House District 49. He holds degrees from MIT and Harvard Law School and works on ERCOT compliance, permitting, and grid infrastructure.
Records: Civil Rights 1 for, Environment and Public Health 1 for, Healthcare Affordability 1 for, Housing Affordability 1 for, Public Education Quality 1 for, Public Infrastructure 1 for, Reduce Wealth Gap 1 for
Election sources
Source: votetravis.gov
Source: votetravis.gov
Source: txelectionresults.com