Voters in Texas House District 49 are heading to the polls Tuesday to choose between Montserrat Garibay and Kathie Tovo in a closely watched Democratic runoff election.
The winner will effectively secure the seat in November after Republicans declined to field a candidate for the heavily Democratic district, which has long been represented by Gina Hinojosa. Hinojosa vacated the seat to run for governor.
District 49 covers parts of South and Central Austin, including the University of Texas at Austin area, stretching from William Cannon Drive to just north of U.S. Highway 183.
Education has emerged as the defining issue in the race.
Both Garibay and Tovo have criticized Texas’ school voucher push and called for changes to the state’s recapture system, which redistributes property tax revenue from wealthier districts to lower-funded school systems statewide.
The issue has become especially pressing for Austin Independent School District, which is grappling with declining enrollment, a projected $181 million deficit, school closures and possible layoffs.
Garibay, an Austin ISD educator, has centered her campaign on her firsthand experience in public schools, arguing she is best positioned to advocate for education funding in the Texas Legislature.
Tovo, meanwhile, has emphasized her years serving on the Austin City Council, saying her government experience would help her navigate the Republican-controlled Texas House more effectively.
Garibay entered Election Day with momentum after leading the March primary field, receiving more than 13,000 votes compared to roughly 11,000 for Tovo.
According to the Travis County clerk, voter turnout surged during the March primaries, with nearly 30% of registered voters casting ballots. Early voting turnout for the runoff, however, dropped significantly, with just over 6% of registered voters participating before Election Day.
