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Gigs Hodges earned an associate's degree in secondary education and teaching from Austin Community College and a bachelor's degree in youth and community studies from the University of Texas at Austin. She lives in Austin.

Gigs works as a legislative director in the Texas House of Representatives and as an organizer for Education Austin, a union for non-supervisory educators in Austin Independent School District public schools. She previously worked as a legislative intern in the U.S. House of Representatives, as a student teacher in the Austin Independent School District, and as a barista for Spokesman Coffee.

Gigs Hodges - Ballotpedia

Gigs's campaign for the Texas House of Representatives to represent District 49 is her first run for public office.

Supports increasing the minimum wage to $15 an hour.

Supports increasing the minimum wage to $15 an hour and ending sub-minimum wages for tipped and gig workers, people with disabilities, and prisoners.

Supports allowing public employees to negotiate their pay and benefits as a group.

Supports allowing public employees to negotiate their pay and benefits as a group via collective bargaining rights.

Supports the Omnibus Tenant Bill of Rights, which would provide "baseline protections with real enforcement, freedom from repercussions for organizing..."

Supports the Omnibus Tenant Bill of Rights, which would provide "baseline protections with real enforcement, freedom from repercussions for organizing".

Supports legalizing cannabis for adults 21 and over and implementing taxes on it.

Supports legalizing cannabis for adults 21 and over and implementing taxes on it, while expunging past cannabis records and reinvesting revenue into "the communities most harmed" and discontinuing it as one of the drugs state employees, contractors, and individuals can be tested for.

Supports protecting non-recreational hemp businesses with predictable standards and fair enforcement.

Supports the creation of a cannabis and hemp oversight committee that provides "predictable standards and fair enforcement" of regulations for small businesses and more-established businesses.

- Supports increasing the minimum wage to $15 an hour and ending sub-minimum wages for tipped and gig workers, people with disabilities, and prisoners.
- Supports allowing public employees to negotiate their pay and benefits as a group via collective bargaining rights.
- Supports the Omnibus Tenant Bill of Rights, which would provide "baseline protections with real enforcement, freedom from repercussions for organizing".
- Supports legalizing cannabis for adults 21 and over and implementing taxes on it, while expunging past cannabis records and reinvesting revenue into "the communities most harmed" and discontinuing it as one of the drugs state employees, contractors, and individuals can be tested for.
- Supports the creation of a cannabis and hemp oversight committee that provides "predictable standards and fair enforcement" of regulations for small businesses and more-established businesses.

Economy

Supports criminal justice reform, including reducing harm, expanding re-entry support for formerly incarcerated people, and ending the practice of using jails as mental health facilities.

Wants to stabilize the foster care system.

Supports stabilizing the foster care system by treating it as "essential infrastructure".

Supports regulating surveillance and increasing privacy protections in transit, public spaces, and online.

- Supports gun control.
- Supports criminal justice reform, including reducing harm, expanding re-entry support for formerly incarcerated people, and ending the practice of using jails as mental health facilities.
- Supports stabilizing the foster care system by treating it as "essential infrastructure".
- Supports regulating surveillance and increasing privacy protections in transit, public spaces, and online.

Public Safety

Supports expanding Medicaid to cover low-income adults.

Supports dedicated funding for mental health services and strengthening community care, including coordinated specialty care teams and fully funded local mental health services.

Sponsored an omnibus bill aimed at reducing the transfer of individuals from mental health facilities to prisons, emphasizing non-institutional and harm-reducing strategies.

Plans to introduce an omnibus bill aimed at reducing the transfer of individuals from mental health facilities to prisons, emphasizing non-institutional and harm-reducing strategies.

Supports access to abortion and gender-affirming care.

Supports abortion access and gender-affirming care.

- Supports expanding Medicaid to cover low-income adults.
- Supports dedicated funding for mental health services and strengthening community care, including coordinated specialty care teams and fully funded local mental health services.
- Plans to introduce an omnibus bill aimed at reducing the transfer of individuals from mental health facilities to prisons, emphasizing non-institutional and harm-reducing strategies.
- Supports abortion access and gender-affirming care.

Healthcare

Supports restructuring the "recapture" school tax to fully fund all public schools in Texas.

Opposes "MAGA extremist censorship of the truth" in K-12 schools.

Supports limiting Texas Education Agency (TEA) takeovers of local districts and wants to reinvest power in communities.

Supports dismantling policy structures that contribute to the "school to prison pipeline."

Supports guaranteeing academic freedoms and accessibility in higher education.

Supports introducing a collegiate Student Bill of Rights to grant students autonomy and equal participation in their education.

Supports introducing a collegiate Student Bill of Rights to "grant students autonomy and equal participation in their education."

- Supports restructuring the "recapture" school tax to fully fund all public schools in Texas.
- Opposes "MAGA extremist censorship of the truth" in K-12 schools.
- Supports limiting Texas Education Agency (TEA) takeovers of local districts and wants to reinvest power in communities.
- Supports dismantling policy structures that contribute to the "school to prison pipeline."
- Supports guaranteeing academic freedoms and accessibility in higher education.
- Supports introducing a collegiate Student Bill of Rights to "grant students autonomy and equal participation in their education."

Education

Supports ending government subsidies for major polluters and having Texas move on from fossil fuel reliance through expansion of public investment in renewable energy.

Supports protecting Texas natural resources and public lands through "true collaboration with Indigenous nations" and fully funding the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Supports investment into Fund Texas Forever and fixing the Texas power grid to prepare, recover, and rebuild from climate change and other future events.

- Supports ending government subsidies for major polluters and having Texas move on from fossil fuel reliance through expansion of public investment in renewable energy.
- Supports protecting Texas natural resources and public lands through "true collaboration with Indigenous nations" and fully funding the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
- Supports investment into Fund Texas Forever and fixing the Texas power grid to prepare, recover, and rebuild from climate change and other future events.

Energy & the Environment

Supports expanding ballot access and preventing voter suppression and intimidation.

- Supports expanding ballot access and preventing voter suppression and intimidation.

Voting & Elections

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Gigs Hodges

As of January 22, 2026, Gigs Hodges’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Matthew Tomas

Walter Ley

Supports ending sub-minimum wages for tipped workers, gig workers, people with disabilities, and prisoners.

Supports expunging past cannabis records and reinvesting revenue into communities most harmed.

Supports removing cannabis from the list of drugs that state employees, contractors, and individuals on probation and parole can be tested for.

Josh Reyna is a sixth-generation Texan and a 20-year resident of Austin. He graduated from St. Edward’s University with a degree in accounting and earned his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law. He lives in Austin with his wife, Larissa, and their young son.

Josh is Chief of Staff and General Counsel in the Texas Senate. He works for Sen. César Blanco, where he has been for over 16 years. He previously served as a legislative intern at the Texas Capitol.

'We can do better': UT alumna, nurse joins Texas state ...

Josh Reyna — Donate via ActBlue

Josh Reyna's campaign for Texas House of Representatives District 49 is his first entry into politics.

Josh Reyna - Ballotpedia

Josh's campaign for Texas House of Representatives District 49 is his first entry into politics.

Supports empowering working families through economic measures such as expanding food stamp access, creating family leave for government workers, strengthening the childcare workforce, and launching workforce development programs to secure well-paying jobs for Texans.

Supports strengthening local hiring, safeguarding small businesses from cyberattacks, and creating youth workforce opportunities.

Supports safeguarding small businesses from cyberattacks.

Supports lower property taxes and healthcare costs.

- Supports expanding food stamp access.
- Supports safeguarding small businesses from cyberattacks.
- Supports lower property taxes and healthcare costs.

Supports gun control, having passed the “Lie & Try” gun safety bill.

Supports collaboration with Democratic lawmakers on key issues such as public school funding, abortion legislation, property taxes, healthcare costs, power grid updates, and fair redistricting.

- Supports gun control.
- Supports fully funding  public schools.

Supports increasing access to healthcare and mental health services, extending community health worker programs, and strengthening safety-net services for veterans and vulnerable populations.

Supports increasing access to healthcare and mental health for veterans and vulnerable populations.

- Supports increasing access to healthcare and mental health for veterans and vulnerable populations.

Opposes school vouchers, which are programs and policies that allow families to use public school funds to access schools beyond their local option, including private schools.

As of January 22, 2026, Josh Reyna’s website did not contain information on this issue.

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Josh Reyna

As a city council member, revamped economic development programs with stronger local hiring requirements, protected small businesses from cyberattacks with legal safe harbor, and created opportunities for youth entering the workforce.

As a state representative, supported legislation that "strengthened greenhouse gas regulations, reduced flaring and air pollution from oil and gas operations, promoted renewable energy infrastructure, protected solar customers, and funded clean-up of hazardous leaking wells."

Kathie attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has a master’s degree in American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. She also has a doctor of philosophy degree in American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. She attends St. John’s United Methodist Church.

Kathie Tovo attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has a master’s degree in American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. She also has a doctor of philosophy degree in American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. She attends St. John’s United Methodist Church.

Kathie previously served as adjunct faculty at The University of Texas at Austin. Previously, she also worked with Humanities Texas, the state partner of the National Endowment for Humanities and at University of Puerto Rico at Cayey.


Profile: Kathie Tovo for mayor

Former Council Member, adjunct faculty member running for Texas ...

Kathie previously ran for Mayor of Austin, Texas in 2024 but did not win. She is a former city council member.  

Supports property tax reforms to help renters and homeowners remain in their homes.

Supports small businesses and industries that provide good jobs.

Supports investing in food system planning and programs to address food insecurity.

Supports increasing affordable housing statewide.

Supports providing housing and services for homeless Texans.

As a city council member, Tovo "initiated action against Travis Central Appraisal District to help lower the tax burden on homeowners."

As a city council member, opposed a 12% utility rate increase, expanded utility assistance for low-income customers, and introduced a fair payment plan to prevent utility cutoffs.

- Supports property tax reforms to help renters and homeowners remain in their homes.
- Supports small businesses and industries that provide good jobs.
- Supports investing in food system planning and programs to address food insecurity.
- Supports increasing affordable housing statewide.
- Supports providing housing and services for homeless Texans.
- Supports tenant protections.
- As a city council member, Tovo "initiated action against Travis Central Appraisal District to help lower the tax burden on homeowners."
- As a city council member, opposed a 12% utility rate increase, expanded utility assistance for low-income customers, and introduced a fair payment plan to prevent utility cutoffs.

Supports proactive public health measures to ensure community safety, health, and connectivity.

- Supports expanding Medicaid.
- Supports proactive public health measures to ensure community safety, health, and connectivity.

Opposes private school vouchers, book bans, and other measures that threaten access to high-quality public education.

Supports "full funding of our public schools, including increasing the basic per-student allotment."

Supports a school accountability system that uses more than just standardized test scores.

Supports policies that help students achieve academic success.

- Opposes private school vouchers, book bans, and other measures that threaten access to high-quality public education.
- Supports "full funding of our public schools, including increasing the basic per-student allotment."
- Supports a school accountability system that uses more than just standardized test scores.
- Supports policies that help students achieve academic success.

Supports preserving and expanding open and green spaces.

Supports enhancing the reliability of the Texas power grid.

Supports investing in multimodal transportation solutions.

Supports emergency preparedness through flood and fire warning systems and financial support for community resilience hubs.

Believes Texas should invest in community preparedness to save lives and reduce recovery costs.

Believes that Texas should invest in community preparedness to save lives and reduce recovery costs.

- Supports preserving and expanding open and green spaces.
- Supports enhancing the reliability of the Texas power grid.
- Supports investing in multimodal transportation solutions.
- Supports emergency preparedness through flood and fire warning systems and financial support for community resilience hubs.
- Believes that Texas should invest in community preparedness to save lives and reduce recovery costs.

Plans to "challenge harmful laws that target...voting access..."

- Plans to "challenge harmful laws that target...voting access..."

Kathie Tovo

- Supports property tax reforms to help renters and homeowners remain in their homes.
- Supports small businesses and industries that provide good jobs.
- Supports investing in food system planning and programs to address food insecurity.
- Supports increasing affordable housing statewide.
- Supports providing housing and services for homeless Texans.
- As a city council member, Tovo "initiated action against Travis Central Appraisal District to help lower the tax burden on homeowners."
- As a city council member, opposed a 12% utility rate increase, expanded utility assistance for low-income customers, and introduced a fair payment plan to prevent utility cutoffs.

Kimmie is from North Dallas, Texas. She attended Richardson Independent School District public schools. She has a bachelor’s degree in government from the University of Texas at Austin and a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Rush University.

HD49: Eight Democrats, One Seat, And A Very Progressive District

Kimmie Ellison is from North Dallas, Texas. She attended Richardson Independent School District public schools. She has a bachelor’s degree in government from the University of Texas at Austin and a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Rush University.

Kimmie is a nurse practitioner. She works at a nonprofit health care clinic in Austin, where she sees patients several days a week. She previously worked on a presidential campaign and as an administrative assistant in the White House, as a nurse in South Austin early in her career, in the Peace Corps in Ghana, and as an ICU nurse at the University of Chicago Medical Center while earning her Doctor of Nursing Practice at Rush University.

Austin's Texas House candidates: Who's running in primary

Kimmie Ellison's campaign for Texas State Representative, District 49, is her first entry into politics.

Kimmie Ellison - Ballotpedia

Kimmie's campaign for Texas State Representative, District 49, is her first entry into politics.

Supports reallocating tax breaks from the "ultra wealthy and corporations" to provide tax relief for residents of Austin and other communities in the state.

- Supports reallocating tax breaks from the "ultra wealthy and corporations" to provide tax relief for residents of Austin and other communities in the state.

As of January 22, 2026, Kimmie Ellison’s website did not contain information on this issue.

- Supports Medicaid expansion.
- Supports abortion access.

Opposes "recapture" funding and school vouchers, which are programs that allow families to use public school funds to access schools beyond their local options, including private schools.

- Opposes "recapture" funding and school vouchers, which are programs that allow families to use public school funds to access schools beyond their local options, including private schools.

Supports investing in renewable energy and water conservation while also supporting the use of oil and natural gas.

- Supports investing in renewable energy and water conservation while also supporting the use of oil and natural gas.

Kimmie Ellison

Supports redistributing tax breaks from the wealthy and corporations to provide tax relief for residents.

Montserrat Garibay immigrated to Texas from Mexico City. She earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees in education from the University of Texas at Austin. She lives in Austin with her husband, Gilbert.

Montserrat is the Acting Assistant Deputy Secretary and Director for the Office of English Language Acquisition and Senior Advisor for Labor Relations at the U.S. Department of Education. She previously worked as secretary-treasurer of the Texas American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations, as vice president for certified employees with Education Austin, and as a bilingual pre-kindergarten teacher for eight years.

Montserrat Garibay

Montserrat is the acting assistant deputy secretary and director for the office of english language acquisition and senior advisor for labor relations at the U.S. Department of Education. She previously worked as secretary-treasurer of the Texas American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations, as vice president for certified employees with Education Austin, and as a bilingual pre-kindergarten teacher for eight years.

Montserrat Garibay's campaign for Texas State Representative, District 49, is her first entry into politics.

Montserrat Garibay - Center for Applied Linguistics

Texas AFT COPE Endorses Hinojosa for Governor, Garibay to ...

Texas Labor Organizer Montserrat Garibay Goes to Washington

Montserrat's campaign for Texas State Representative, District 49, is her first entry into politics.

Supports raising the minimum wage and eliminating the subminimum wage for youth and tipped workers.

Supports passing paid medical, sick, parental, family care, and bereavement leave.

Supports expanding job training, upskilling, reskilling opportunities, and apprenticeship programs, especially in renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, and semiconductor fabrication.

Supports expanding job training, upskilling, reskilling opportunities, and apprenticeship programs.

Supports preserving automatic payroll deductions, protecting the right to organize and join a union, and allowing public sector workers to collectively bargain.

Supports preserving automatic payroll deductions, protecting the right to organize and join a union.

Supports creating pathways to homeownership through downpayment assistance, low-interest loan programs, and tax credits.

Supports creating pathways to homeownership through downpayment assistance.

Supports strengthening eviction protections for renters, holding landlords accountable for neglecting repairs and health standards, and mandating functioning HVAC systems in all rental units.

Supports strengthening eviction protections for renters.

Supports making childcare more affordable while reducing waitlists and licensing barriers.

Supports expanding affordable, high-speed broadband by building a statewide fiber network to close racial, rural, and economic access gaps.

Supports expanding affordable, high-speed broadband.

Supports addressing economic and racial inequities in access to healthy food by reducing food deserts and supporting grocery stores, food co-ops, and urban agriculture in underserved communities.

Supports addressing economic and racial inequities in access to healthy foods.

Supports investing in public transit and expanding infrastructure like sidewalks and bike lanes.

Supports investing in public transit and expanding infrastructure.

Supports repairing aging pipes, funding water recapture and reuse technologies, and developing sustainable new water sources.

Supports funding water recapture and reuse technologies.

Supports strengthening the electric grid, investing in energy storage, and prioritizing renewable energy generation.

Supports strengthening the electric grid and prioritizing renewable energy.

- Supports raising the minimum wage and eliminating the subminimum wage for youth and tipped workers.
- Supports passing paid medical, sick, parental, family care, and bereavement leave.
- Supports expanding job training, upskilling, reskilling opportunities, and apprenticeship programs.
- Supports preserving automatic payroll deductions, protecting the right to organize and join a union.
- Supports creating pathways to homeownership through downpayment assistance.
- Supports strengthening eviction protections for renters.
- Supports making childcare more affordable while reducing waitlists and licensing barriers.
- Supports expanding affordable, high-speed broadband.
- Supports addressing economic and racial inequities in access to healthy foods.
- Supports investing in public transit and expanding infrastructure.
- Supports funding water recapture and reuse technologies.
- Supports strengthening the electric grid and prioritizing renewable energy.

Supports legalizing cannabis for adults aged 21 and over.

Opposes cash bail and pre-trial detention.

Supports increasing funding for diversion programs, expanding access to specialty programs for youthful offenders, drug users, and veterans, and improving re-entry programs to prevent homelessness and reoffending.

Supports increasing funding for diversion programs.

Supports ending local collaborations with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Supports providing air conditioning, essential medications, mental health care, menstrual and feminine hygiene products, and gender-affirming care for incarcerated people.

Supports gun control and said, "Require universal background checks and close loopholes for gun shows and private sales."

Supports repealing campus carry and open carry laws.

Supports gun control and wants to "pass red flag laws, strengthen extreme risk protective orders, and implement comprehensive policies that more effectively protect survivors of gun violence."

Supports increasing funding for community-based violence intervention, including street outreach, hospital-based, and group violence intervention programs.

Supports increasing funding for community-based violence intervention programs.

- Supports legalizing cannabis for adults aged 21 and over.
- Opposes cash bail and pre-trial detention.
- Supports increasing funding for diversion programs.
- Supports ending local collaborations with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
- Supports providing air conditioning, essential medications, mental health care, menstrual and feminine hygiene products, and gender-affirming care for incarcerated people.
- Supports universal background checks.
- Supports repealing campus carry and open carry laws.
- Wants to pass red flag laws.
- Supports increasing funding for community-based violence intervention programs.

Supports expanding Medicaid and increasing reimbursement rates for healthcare services, particularly pediatrics, preventative care, and behavioral health.

Supports expanding Medicaid and increasing reimbursement rates.

Supports increasing home visitation and family support programs, especially for new parents.

Supports increasing home visitation and family support programs.

Supports affordable in vitro fertilization (IVF) and family planning, especially for low-income and underserved communities.

Supports affordable in vitro fertilization (IVF) and family planning.

Supports removing cost and access barriers to mental health care by guaranteeing affordable, community-based services for children and families and facilitating telehealth and mobile services for providers.

Supports removing cost and access barriers to mental health care.

Supports implementing statewide programs for early childhood screenings, vaccinations, and chronic disease prevention and management.

Supports implementing statewide programs for early childhood screenings, vaccinations, and chronic disease prevention.

- Supports expanding Medicaid and increasing reimbursement rates.
- Supports increasing home visitation and family support programs.
- Supports affordable in vitro fertilization (IVF) and family planning.
- Supports removing cost and access barriers to mental health care.
- Supports implementing statewide programs for early childhood screenings, vaccinations, and chronic disease prevention.
- Supports abortion access.

Supports increasing per-pupil funding and adjusting it based on the cost of living.

Supports universal full-day pre-kindergarten programs.

Supports increasing salaries for teachers, paraprofessionals, and support staff so that one job is enough to make a living and improve pensions and healthcare for retired education professionals

Supports increasing salaries for teachers, paraprofessionals, and support staff.

Opposes "book bans and politically-motivated censorship of textbooks or curriculum standards."

Opposes book bans and politically-motivated censorship.

Supports restoring tenure, academic freedom, free speech, and increasing research funding.

Supports expanding language access across all Texas state agencies.

- Supports increasing per-pupil funding and adjusting it based on the cost of living.
- Supports universal full-day pre-kindergarten programs.
- Supports increasing salaries for teachers, paraprofessionals, and support staff.
- Opposes book bans and politically-motivated censorship.
- Supports restoring tenure, academic freedom, free speech, and increasing research funding.
- Supports expanding language access across all Texas state agencies.

As of January 22, 2026, Montserrat Garibay’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports eliminating barriers for young people, seniors, Texans of color, and new citizens to register and vote; ending voter purges; decriminalizing election participation; and reducing interference by partisan poll watchers.

Supports eliminating barriers for young people, seniors, Texans of color, and new citizens to register and vote.

Supports online voter registration, same-day voter registration, and automatic voter registration.

Supports extending voting hours on weeknights and weekends.

Supports increasing funding for voting systems, cybersecurity, and election worker pay.

- Supports eliminating barriers for young people, seniors, Texans of color, and new citizens to register and vote.
- Supports online voter registration, same-day voter registration, and automatic voter registration.
- Supports extending voting hours on weeknights and weekends.
- Supports increasing funding for voting systems, cybersecurity, and election worker pay.

- Your state representative represents the interests of your local district in the Texas House of Representatives. The State House of Representatives, along with the State Senate, makes up your state lawmaking body: the Texas State Legislature
- Your state representative can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws. 
- There are 150 members of the Texas House of Representatives, each representing a single district. Representatives must be at least 21 years old and reside in the state for at least two years before their election. 
- State representatives are elected to two-year terms during even-numbered years. There are no term limits. 
- State representatives make $7,200 annually in addition to a $221 payment per day during legislative sessions and mileage reimbursements.

Your representative and state lawmaker in the Texas House of Representatives.

Texas State Representative, District 49, Democratic Primary

Election results

Runoff election

Candidates (8)