Texas Ballot Compare

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Nonpartisan voter guide · Texas

State Representative, District 49

Race · November 3, 2026 general election

State of Texas
Vote for oneResearched · fact-checked
Montserrat GaribayMontserrat GaribayDemocratic
Arshia PapariGreen
On ballot as
Montserrat Garibay
Arshia Papari
Current role
Not found
Student of government and Middle Eastern studies, University of Texas at Austin (per campaign)
Background
  • Bachelor's and master's degrees, University of Texas at Austin
  • Came to the U.S. as a child, undocumented; Austin public schools graduate (per candidate)
  • House District 49 resident for more than fifteen years (per campaign)
  • Allen High School graduate
  • Second-generation Iranian-American (per campaign)
  • Community organizer and student activist (per campaign)
Experience
  • Former deputy assistant secretary, U.S. Department of Education, Biden administration (per campaign)
  • Former vice president, Education Austin, and later secretary-treasurer, Texas AFL-CIO (per campaign)
  • Taught bilingual pre-K in Austin ISD for eight years (per campaign)
  • Democratic primary runoff (May 26, 2026): won over Kathie Tovo
  • Green convention nominee (March 14, 2026)
Top priorities
  • Schools: "Increase per-pupil funding and tie it to cost of living"
  • Health care: "Expand Medicaid and increase reimbursement rates"
  • Jobs: "Raise the minimum wage and eliminate the subminimum wage for youth or tipped workers"
  • Housing: "Increase affordable housing, incentivize “missing middle” construction, and reduce displacement and gentrification"
  • Gun safety: "Require universal background checks and close loopholes for gun shows and private sales"
  • Housing: "A rent freeze is needed across the board to help everyday Texans get by"
  • Calls for "taking corporate money out of politics"
  • Child care: "providing universal childcare, implementing universal and extended paid parental leave"
  • Criminal justice: "we must end the bail system"
  • Free speech: "We must uphold the first amendment, our sacred right to free speech"
Tidbits
  • Abortion: Campaign site: "Guarantee reproductive freedom for all by ensuring access to abortion, family planning, and comprehensive care without barriers, discrimination, or stigma"
  • Border and immigration: Campaign site: "End the criminalization of immigrant communities and dismantle state-imposed barriers"
  • Guns: Campaign site: "Require universal background checks and close loopholes for gun shows and private sales"
  • Public schools and vouchers: In a 2026 ATPE candidate survey: "I oppose private school voucher scams and believe we should repeal the existing program, not expand it."
  • Property taxes: No public statement found
Claims and the record
  • Controversies: None found in the news coverage we reviewed
  • Abortion: No public statement found
  • Border and immigration: In a 2026 Ballotpedia survey: "I see directly our state's failings as we viciously rip apart communities with ICE and border operations"
  • Guns: No public statement found
  • Public schools and vouchers: Campaign platform refers to "the school voucher scam"
  • Property taxes: No public statement found
Claims and the record
  • Controversies: None found in the news coverage we reviewed
Endorsements
  • Texas AFL-CIO
  • Texas AFT
  • Texas State Teachers Association
  • Texas Medical Association PAC (TEXPAC)
  • Austin Central Labor Council
Show all 75
  • Austin American-Statesman Editorial Board (primary)
  • AFSCME Local 1624 (primary)
  • The Austin Chronicle (listed by campaign)
  • Miguel Cardona, 12th U.S. Secretary of Education (listed by campaign)
  • Greg Casar, U.S. Representative District 35 (listed by campaign)
  • Marc Veasey, U.S. Representative District 33 (listed by campaign)
  • Wendy Davis, Fmr. Texas State Senator (listed by campaign)
  • César Blanco, State Senator District 29 (listed by campaign)
  • John Bucy III, Texas Representative District 136 (listed by campaign)
  • Mary González, Texas Representative District 75 (listed by campaign)
  • Ramón Romero, Jr., Texas Representative District 90 (listed by campaign)
  • Armando Walle, Texas Representative District 140 (listed by campaign)
  • Erin Zwiener, Texas Representative District 45 (listed by campaign)
  • Celia Israel, Travis County Tax Accessor-Collector & Voter Registrar (listed by campaign)
  • José Garza, Travis County District Attorney (listed by campaign)
  • Delia Garza, Travis County Attorney (listed by campaign)
  • George Morales, Travis County Constable Precinct 4 (listed by campaign)
  • Vanessa Fuentes, Austin City Council Member District 2 (listed by campaign)
  • José Velásquez, Austin City Council Member District 3 (listed by campaign)
  • Chito Vela, Austin City Council Member District 4 (listed by campaign)
  • Mike Siegel, Austin City Council Member District 7 (listed by campaign)
  • Zo Qadri, Austin City Council Member District 9 (listed by campaign)
  • Sean Hassan, ACC Trustee Place 4 (listed by campaign)
  • Stephanie Gharakhanian, ACC Trustee Place 8 (listed by campaign)
  • Julie Ann Nitsch, ACC Trustee Place 9 (listed by campaign)
  • Lynn Boswell, Austin ISD Trustee District 5, Board President (listed by campaign)
  • Kathryn Whitley Chu, Austin ISD Trustee District 4, Board Vice President (listed by campaign)
  • LaRessa Quintana, Austin ISD Trustee District 2 (listed by campaign)
  • Andrew Gonzales, Austin ISD Trustee District 6 (listed by campaign)
  • Fernando de Urioste, Austin ISD Trustee At-Large Position 8 (listed by campaign)
  • Arati Singh, Austin ISD Trustee At-Large Position 9 (listed by campaign)
  • Hon. Cindy Anderson (listed by campaign)
  • Hon. Dana DeBeauvoir (listed by campaign)
  • Hon. Ted Gordon (listed by campaign)
  • Hon. Diana Maldonado (listed by campaign)
  • Hon. Jayme Mathias (listed by campaign)
  • Hon. Glen Maxey (listed by campaign)
  • Hon. Rick Noriega (listed by campaign)
  • Hon. Geronimo Rodriguez (listed by campaign)
  • Hon. Paul Saldaña (listed by campaign)
  • Hon. Ann Teich (listed by campaign)
  • Hon. Yasmin Wagner (listed by campaign)
  • Annie's List (listed by campaign)
  • Education Austin (listed by campaign)
  • Texas Working Families Party (listed by campaign)
  • Texas Progressive Caucus (listed by campaign)
  • Lead Locally (listed by campaign)
  • The First Ask (listed by campaign)
  • CWA District 6 (listed by campaign)
  • Texas State Employees Union (CWA-TSEU) (listed by campaign)
  • AFSCME Retirees Texas Chapter 12 (listed by campaign)
  • Texas Alliance for Retired Americans (listed by campaign)
  • AURA (listed by campaign)
  • Austin Young Democrats (listed by campaign)
  • University Democrats (listed by campaign)
  • Workers Defense Action Fund (listed by campaign)
  • Texas Building and Construction Trades Council (listed by campaign)
  • LiUNA Local 1095 (listed by campaign)
  • UNITE HERE Local 23 (listed by campaign)
  • United Workers of Integral Care (listed by campaign)
  • OPEIU Local 277 (listed by campaign)
  • Southern Regional Council of Carpenters (listed by campaign)
  • Ironworkers Local 482 (listed by campaign)
  • Capital Area Progressive Democrats (listed by campaign)
  • Wooten Democrats (listed by campaign)
  • DH Action Fund (listed by campaign)
  • Equity Action (listed by campaign)
  • CAIR Action Texas (listed by campaign)
  • Organize for Peace (listed by campaign)
  • Texas Animal Freedom Fighters (listed by campaign)
  • McCallum Young Democratic Socialists of America (listed by campaign)
  • Student Victory Fund (listed by campaign)
  • Edwin Escamilla (D), Precinct Chair 250 (listed by campaign)
Campaign website
montserratfortexas.com
arshiafortexas.org
Montserrat Garibay

Montserrat Garibay

Democratic
On ballot as
Montserrat Garibay
Current role
Not found
Background
  • Bachelor's and master's degrees, University of Texas at Austin
  • Came to the U.S. as a child, undocumented; Austin public schools graduate (per candidate)
  • House District 49 resident for more than fifteen years (per campaign)
Experience
  • Former deputy assistant secretary, U.S. Department of Education, Biden administration (per campaign)
  • Former vice president, Education Austin, and later secretary-treasurer, Texas AFL-CIO (per campaign)
  • Taught bilingual pre-K in Austin ISD for eight years (per campaign)
  • Democratic primary runoff (May 26, 2026): won over Kathie Tovo
Top priorities
  • Schools: "Increase per-pupil funding and tie it to cost of living"
  • Health care: "Expand Medicaid and increase reimbursement rates"
  • Jobs: "Raise the minimum wage and eliminate the subminimum wage for youth or tipped workers"
  • Housing: "Increase affordable housing, incentivize “missing middle” construction, and reduce displacement and gentrification"
  • Gun safety: "Require universal background checks and close loopholes for gun shows and private sales"
Tidbits
  • Abortion: Campaign site: "Guarantee reproductive freedom for all by ensuring access to abortion, family planning, and comprehensive care without barriers, discrimination, or stigma"
  • Border and immigration: Campaign site: "End the criminalization of immigrant communities and dismantle state-imposed barriers"
  • Guns: Campaign site: "Require universal background checks and close loopholes for gun shows and private sales"
  • Public schools and vouchers: In a 2026 ATPE candidate survey: "I oppose private school voucher scams and believe we should repeal the existing program, not expand it."
  • Property taxes: No public statement found
Claims and the record
  • Controversies: None found in the news coverage we reviewed
Endorsements
  • Texas AFL-CIO
  • Texas AFT
  • Texas State Teachers Association
  • Texas Medical Association PAC (TEXPAC)
  • Austin Central Labor Council
Show all 75
  • Austin American-Statesman Editorial Board (primary)
  • AFSCME Local 1624 (primary)
  • The Austin Chronicle (listed by campaign)
  • Miguel Cardona, 12th U.S. Secretary of Education (listed by campaign)
  • Greg Casar, U.S. Representative District 35 (listed by campaign)
  • Marc Veasey, U.S. Representative District 33 (listed by campaign)
  • Wendy Davis, Fmr. Texas State Senator (listed by campaign)
  • César Blanco, State Senator District 29 (listed by campaign)
  • John Bucy III, Texas Representative District 136 (listed by campaign)
  • Mary González, Texas Representative District 75 (listed by campaign)
  • Ramón Romero, Jr., Texas Representative District 90 (listed by campaign)
  • Armando Walle, Texas Representative District 140 (listed by campaign)
  • Erin Zwiener, Texas Representative District 45 (listed by campaign)
  • Celia Israel, Travis County Tax Accessor-Collector & Voter Registrar (listed by campaign)
  • José Garza, Travis County District Attorney (listed by campaign)
  • Delia Garza, Travis County Attorney (listed by campaign)
  • George Morales, Travis County Constable Precinct 4 (listed by campaign)
  • Vanessa Fuentes, Austin City Council Member District 2 (listed by campaign)
  • José Velásquez, Austin City Council Member District 3 (listed by campaign)
  • Chito Vela, Austin City Council Member District 4 (listed by campaign)
  • Mike Siegel, Austin City Council Member District 7 (listed by campaign)
  • Zo Qadri, Austin City Council Member District 9 (listed by campaign)
  • Sean Hassan, ACC Trustee Place 4 (listed by campaign)
  • Stephanie Gharakhanian, ACC Trustee Place 8 (listed by campaign)
  • Julie Ann Nitsch, ACC Trustee Place 9 (listed by campaign)
  • Lynn Boswell, Austin ISD Trustee District 5, Board President (listed by campaign)
  • Kathryn Whitley Chu, Austin ISD Trustee District 4, Board Vice President (listed by campaign)
  • LaRessa Quintana, Austin ISD Trustee District 2 (listed by campaign)
  • Andrew Gonzales, Austin ISD Trustee District 6 (listed by campaign)
  • Fernando de Urioste, Austin ISD Trustee At-Large Position 8 (listed by campaign)
  • Arati Singh, Austin ISD Trustee At-Large Position 9 (listed by campaign)
  • Hon. Cindy Anderson (listed by campaign)
  • Hon. Dana DeBeauvoir (listed by campaign)
  • Hon. Ted Gordon (listed by campaign)
  • Hon. Diana Maldonado (listed by campaign)
  • Hon. Jayme Mathias (listed by campaign)
  • Hon. Glen Maxey (listed by campaign)
  • Hon. Rick Noriega (listed by campaign)
  • Hon. Geronimo Rodriguez (listed by campaign)
  • Hon. Paul Saldaña (listed by campaign)
  • Hon. Ann Teich (listed by campaign)
  • Hon. Yasmin Wagner (listed by campaign)
  • Annie's List (listed by campaign)
  • Education Austin (listed by campaign)
  • Texas Working Families Party (listed by campaign)
  • Texas Progressive Caucus (listed by campaign)
  • Lead Locally (listed by campaign)
  • The First Ask (listed by campaign)
  • CWA District 6 (listed by campaign)
  • Texas State Employees Union (CWA-TSEU) (listed by campaign)
  • AFSCME Retirees Texas Chapter 12 (listed by campaign)
  • Texas Alliance for Retired Americans (listed by campaign)
  • AURA (listed by campaign)
  • Austin Young Democrats (listed by campaign)
  • University Democrats (listed by campaign)
  • Workers Defense Action Fund (listed by campaign)
  • Texas Building and Construction Trades Council (listed by campaign)
  • LiUNA Local 1095 (listed by campaign)
  • UNITE HERE Local 23 (listed by campaign)
  • United Workers of Integral Care (listed by campaign)
  • OPEIU Local 277 (listed by campaign)
  • Southern Regional Council of Carpenters (listed by campaign)
  • Ironworkers Local 482 (listed by campaign)
  • Capital Area Progressive Democrats (listed by campaign)
  • Wooten Democrats (listed by campaign)
  • DH Action Fund (listed by campaign)
  • Equity Action (listed by campaign)
  • CAIR Action Texas (listed by campaign)
  • Organize for Peace (listed by campaign)
  • Texas Animal Freedom Fighters (listed by campaign)
Campaign website
montserratfortexas.com

Arshia Papari

Green
On ballot as
Arshia Papari
Current role
Student of government and Middle Eastern studies, University of Texas at Austin (per campaign)
Background
  • Allen High School graduate
  • Second-generation Iranian-American (per campaign)
  • Community organizer and student activist (per campaign)
Experience
  • Green convention nominee (March 14, 2026)
Top priorities
  • Housing: "A rent freeze is needed across the board to help everyday Texans get by"
  • Calls for "taking corporate money out of politics"
  • Child care: "providing universal childcare, implementing universal and extended paid parental leave"
  • Criminal justice: "we must end the bail system"
  • Free speech: "We must uphold the first amendment, our sacred right to free speech"
Tidbits
  • Abortion: No public statement found
  • Border and immigration: In a 2026 Ballotpedia survey: "I see directly our state's failings as we viciously rip apart communities with ICE and border operations"
  • Guns: No public statement found
  • Public schools and vouchers: Campaign platform refers to "the school voucher scam"
  • Property taxes: No public statement found
Claims and the record
  • Controversies: None found in the news coverage we reviewed
Endorsements
  • McCallum Young Democratic Socialists of America (listed by campaign)
  • Student Victory Fund (listed by campaign)
  • Edwin Escamilla (D), Precinct Chair 250 (listed by campaign)
Campaign website
arshiafortexas.org

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