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Candidate

Gene Wu

Democrat · Incumbent

State Representative, Texas House District 137; chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus

Gene Wu is a Democrat who has represented Texas House District 137 in southwest Houston since 2013 and chairs the House Democratic Caucus156. He is an attorney and former felony prosecutor in the Harris County District Attorney's Office1. He faces Republican Helen Zhou on Nov. 3, 202632.

Where they stand 20 issues · tap any issue for the evidence

  • School choiceNo, keep public money in traditional public schoolsmedium
    Said · medium confidence
    • His campaign says Texas should fully fund neighborhood public schools and stop "voucher schemes" from draining classrooms. (2026) source
    • Voted yes on the Raney amendment, which removed the education savings account (voucher) program from HB 1; the House adopted it 84 to 63. (2023-11-17) source
    • Filed a statement in the House Journal that his vote on SB 2, the 2025 education savings account bill, failed to register and that he would have voted no; it passed 86 to 61. (2025-04-17) source
  • MarijuanaDecriminalize small amounts (fines, not jail)medium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Voted yes on HB 441, which reduced the penalty for possessing small amounts of marijuana; it passed the House 88 to 40. (2021-04-30) source
    • Voted yes on HB 218, which reduced penalties and licensing consequences for possessing small amounts of marijuana; it passed the House 87 to 59. (2023-04-27) source
    • Voted yes on HB 46, which expanded the state's medical low-THC cannabis program; it passed the House 122 to 21. (2025-05-13) source
    • Voted no on SB 3, which would have banned most consumable hemp-derived THC products; it passed the House 87 to 54 and was later vetoed by the governor. (2025-05-22) source
  • AI data centersWelcome them, but make them pay their full share of grid and water costsmedium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Voted yes on SB 6, which set rules for how very large electricity users such as data centers connect to the grid and share related costs; it passed the House 103 to 25. (2025-05-27) source
  • Housing and growthAllow townhomes and apartments in more places to bring prices downmedium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Voted yes on SB 15, which bars certain large cities from requiring large minimum lot sizes for new homes; it passed the House 86 to 43. (2025-05-28) source
    • Voted yes on the final version of SB 15, which bars certain large cities from requiring large minimum lot sizes for new homes; the House adopted it 78 to 57. (2025-06-01) source
    • His campaign says he backs fair and affordable housing for the renters who make up most of his district. (2026) source
  • RedistrictingNo single answer fitsmedium
    Official action · medium confidence
    • As House Democratic leader, led the August 2025 quorum break by House Democrats who left Texas to delay a vote on redrawing the state's congressional districts. (2025-08) source
    • Voted no on HB 4, the 2025 mid-decade redrawing of Texas congressional districts; it passed the House 88 to 52. (2025-08-20) source
    • His campaign says voters should choose their leaders, not the other way around, and describes the 2025 maps as rigged. (2026) source
  • China policyNo single answer fitsmedium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Voted no on SB 17, which restricts purchases of Texas real property by certain foreign governments, entities and people, including from China; it passed the House 86 to 59. (2025-05-09) source
    • His campaign says he opposes alien land laws. (2026) source
  • AbortionNo single answer fitsmedium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Voted no on SB 8, the Texas Heartbeat Act, which bans most abortions after cardiac activity is detected and is enforced through private lawsuits; it passed the House 83 to 64. (2021-05-06) source
    • Voted no on HB 1280, the law banning abortion if Roe v. Wade was overturned, with an exception only to save the life or a major bodily function of the mother; it passed the House 81 to 61. (2021-05-06) source
    • Voted no on HB 7, which set prohibitions on making and providing abortion-inducing drugs and allows private lawsuits; it passed the House 82 to 48. (2025-08-28) source
  • Gender care for minorsNo single answer fitsmedium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Voted no on SB 14, which banned gender transition procedures and treatments for minors; the House passed it 87 to 56. (2023-05-15) source
  • Transgender athletesNo single answer fitsmedium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Voted no on HB 25, which requires K-12 athletes to compete based on biological sex; it passed the House 76 to 54. (2021-10-14) source
    • Voted no on SB 15, which requires college athletes at public universities to compete based on biological sex; it passed the House 95 to 50. (2023-05-18) source
  • DEI programsNo single answer fitsmedium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Voted no on SB 17, which banned diversity, equity and inclusion offices and related practices at public colleges; it passed the House 83 to 62. (2023-05-22) source
    • Voted no on SB 12, which set parental rights rules and prohibited diversity, equity and inclusion duties in K-12 public schools; it passed the House 88 to 47. (2025-05-25) source
  • Religion in schoolsNo single answer fitsmedium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Voted no on SB 10, which requires the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms; it passed the House 82 to 46. (2025-05-25) source
    • Voted no on SB 11, which allows schools to set a period for prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious texts; it passed the House 88 to 48. (2025-05-23) source
  • Curriculum and booksNo single answer fitsmedium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Voted no on SB 13, which set up local school library advisory councils and parental rights over school library materials; it passed the House 86 to 55. (2025-05-28) source
    • Voted no on HB 900, which regulated library materials sold to or kept in public school libraries; it passed the House 95 to 52. (2023-04-20) source
  • ImmigrationNo single answer fitsmedium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Voted no on SB 4, which made illegal entry into Texas a state crime and allowed state judges to order people to leave the country; it passed the House 83 to 61. (2023-11-14) source
    • Voted no on SB 8, which requires certain sheriffs to enter agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to enforce federal immigration law; it passed the House 86 to 47. (2025-05-25) source
  • GunsNo single answer fitsmedium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Voted no on the final version of HB 1927, which allows adults to carry handguns without a license; the House adopted it 82 to 62. (2021-05-23) source
  • Election rulesNo single answer fitsmedium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Voted no on the final version of SB 1 (2021), the election law overhaul that added ID requirements for mail ballots and banned drive-through and 24-hour voting; the House adopted it 80 to 41. (2021-08-31) source
  • Policing and crimeNo single answer fitsmedium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Voted no on HB 1900, which penalizes large cities that cut police budgets; it passed the House 90 to 49. (2021-05-07) source
    • Voted yes on SB 9, which tightened bail procedures and regulated charitable bail groups; it passed the House 118 to 25. (2025-05-20) source
  • Kids onlineNo single answer fitsmedium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Voted no on HB 186, which would have prohibited minors from using social media platforms; it passed the House 116 to 25 but did not become law. (2025-04-30) source
  • Texas power gridNo single answer fitsmedium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Voted no on SB 2627, which created state loans for new or upgraded dispatchable power plants; it passed the House 118 to 23. (2023-05-23) source
  • Mandatory minimumsNo single answer fitsmedium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Voted no on HB 6, which created new offenses and increased criminal penalties for certain fentanyl-related offenses; it passed the House 124 to 21. (2023-04-28) source
  • School vaccinesNo single answer fitsmedium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Voted no on HB 1586, which made the school vaccine exemption affidavit form easier to obtain; it passed the House 83 to 54. (2025-05-14) source

No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Energy and climate, Property taxes, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Ranked-choice voting, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate.

Record

  • Elected to Texas House District 137 in 2012 and reelected each cycle since12.
  • Worked as a felony prosecutor in the Harris County District Attorney's Office and as chief clerk of the House Higher Education Committee before his election1.
  • As House Democratic leader, led the 2025 quorum break over congressional redistricting; the Legislature fined Democrats who left the state6.
  • Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton asked the Supreme Court of Texas to remove him from office over the quorum break; on May 15, 2026, the court refused, saying the Legislature already has tools to deal with absent members6.
  • Unopposed in the March 2026 Democratic primary; faces Republican Helen Zhou on Nov. 3, 202623.

Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.

Sources (39)

Every claim on this page links to one of these
  1. Gene WuBallotpedia
  2. Texas House of Representatives District 137Ballotpedia
  3. Ballot Certification Report, 2026 November General Election (Harris County, State Representative District 137), printed August 28, 2026Texas Secretary of State
  4. PrioritiesGene Wu Campaign
  5. Meet GeneGene Wu Campaign
  6. Supreme Court of Texas refuses removal of House Democratic leader Gene Wu over 2025 quorum breakHouston Public Media
  7. House Journal, 89th Legislature, Day 46: SB 2 passage and statements of vote (Record 300)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)
  8. House Journal, 88th Legislature 4th Called Session, Day 5: HB 1 Amendment No. 2 (Raney) (Record 56)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)
  9. House Journal, 87th Legislature, Day 37: HB 441 passage (Record 596)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)
  10. House Journal, 88th Legislature, Day 50: HB 218 passage (Record 605)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)
  11. House Journal, 89th Legislature, Day 63: HB 46 passage (Record 2257)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)
  12. House Journal, 89th Legislature, Day 70: SB 3 passage (Record 3304)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)
  13. House Journal, 89th Legislature, Day 75: SB 6 passage (Record 3643)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)
  14. House Journal, 89th Legislature, Day 76: SB 15 passage and statements of vote (Record 3837)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)
  15. House Journal, 89th Legislature, Day 80: SB 15 conference committee report (Record 4137)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)
  16. House Journal, 89th Legislature 2nd Called Session, Day 5: HB 4 final passage (Record 30)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)
  17. House Journal, 89th Legislature, Day 60: SB 17 passage (Record 1881)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)
  18. House Journal, 87th Legislature, Day 41: SB 8 passage (Record 784)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)
  19. House Journal, 87th Legislature, Day 41: HB 1280 passage (Record 793)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)
  20. House Journal, 89th Legislature 2nd Called Session, Day 10: HB 7 passage (Record 135)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)
  21. House Journal, 88th Legislature, Day 63: SB 14 passage (Record 1688)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)
  22. House Journal, 87th Legislature 3rd Called Session, Day 6: HB 25 passage (Record 83)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)
  23. House Journal, 88th Legislature, Day 66: SB 15 passage (Record 1813)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)
  24. House Journal, 88th Legislature, Day 68: SB 17 passage (Record 1921)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)
  25. House Journal, 89th Legislature, Day 73: SB 12 passage (Record 3506)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)
  26. House Journal, 89th Legislature, Day 73: SB 10 passage (Record 3503)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)
  27. House Journal, 89th Legislature, Day 71: SB 11 passage (Record 3315)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)
  28. House Journal, 89th Legislature, Day 76: SB 13 passage (Record 3921)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)
  29. House Journal, 88th Legislature, Day 45: HB 900 passage (Record 351)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)
  30. House Journal, 88th Legislature 4th Called Session, Day 5: SB 4 passage (Record 48)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)
  31. House Journal, 89th Legislature, Day 73: SB 8 passage (Record 3502)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)
  32. House Journal, 87th Legislature, Day 53: HB 1927 conference committee report (Record 1335)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)
  33. House Journal, 87th Legislature 2nd Called Session, Day 6: SB 1 conference committee report (Record 118)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)
  34. House Journal, 87th Legislature, Day 42: HB 1900 passage (Record 847)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)
  35. House Journal, 89th Legislature, Day 68: SB 9 passage (Record 3003)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)
  36. House Journal, 89th Legislature, Day 53: HB 186 passage (Record 972)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)
  37. House Journal, 88th Legislature, Day 69: SB 2627 passage (Record 1977)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)
  38. House Journal, 88th Legislature, Day 51: HB 6 passage (Record 683)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)
  39. House Journal, 89th Legislature, Day 64: HB 1586 passage (Record 2465)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)