Austin's District 49 Picks New State Representative
Voters in the district, which runs from Sunset Valley to North Burnet, pick between Garibay and Papari on Nov. 3.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Austin voters in Texas House District 49, which runs from Sunset Valley to North Burnet, will pick between Democrat Montserrat Garibay and Green Party candidate Arshia Papari in the November general election. Garibay won the Democratic primary over former Council Member Kathie Tovo with about 61% of the vote, and no Republican is on the ballot.
Why it matters
The seat was vacated by Gina Hinojosa, who is running for governor, so the district's Austin voters are choosing a new state representative who will speak for them in Austin's largely Democratic seat in Austin Hall. Because the district is heavily Democratic, the primary result has largely decided who will hold the seat, though the November count is still the official vote.
Montserrat Garibay took about 61% of the Democratic primary vote against former Council Member Kathie Tovo, and her campaign raised about $540,000 against $4,600 raised by Green Party candidate Arshia Papari as of Oct. 31. The November result is still to come, and some races may not be called until Wednesday morning.
The players
Montserrat Garibay
Democratic candidate who beat former Council Member Kathie Tovo in the primary and is expected to win the November race for House District 49.
Arshia Papari
Green Party candidate and University of Texas at Austin government student running against Garibay in November.
Kathie Tovo
Former Austin City Council Member who lost the Democratic primary to Garibay with about 39% of the vote.
The details
Polls close at 7 p.m. on Election Day, and early voting totals are reported first, with results updating through the night as local and state election authorities post them. Garibay, who has worked in education for over 20 years, is expected to win the heavily Democratic district. Papari, a University of Texas at Austin government student, is running on the Green Party ticket.
Timeline
Oct. 31: Papari had raised $4,600, according to the Texas Ethics Commission.
Nov. 3, 2026: General election day; polls close at 7 p.m.
Wednesday morning, Nov. 4, 2026: Some races may not be decided until then.
The Texas Context
House District 49 is one of the Austin-area seats the Texas Legislature draws in the city, and the open seat follows Gina Hinojosa's run for governor. Garibay's primary win over Tovo sets the Democratic line for this race, while the November contest is the final step in choosing who holds the seat.
If you live in House District 49, your vote on Nov. 3 decides who represents you in Austin Hall for the next term. Polls close at 7 p.m., and early voting results come in first, so check back through the evening as totals update.
The takeaway
Garibay is expected to win a heavily Democratic district, but the November count is the official result, so keep an eye on the final tally as it posts through Election Night and into Wednesday morning. If you vote early, your ballot is already counted in the first totals that come out.
What happens next
Polls close at 7 p.m. on Nov. 3, 2026, and some races may not be decided until Wednesday morning, Nov. 4.
Further reading
For the rest of the ballot and how voting works in town, see Elections coverage for Austin.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KUT.
Live Poll
Should Texas direct more state money to public schools than to private school vouchers?
