Texas general election: November 3, 2026
Who is running for State Representative District 28 in 2026?
Here are the candidates for State Representative District 28 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for voters in Texas House District 28.
Positions come only from each candidate's own votes, official actions, statements and questionnaire answers, never from party labels. Every item links to its source.
Side by side
Each candidate's position on the issues this office handles, from their own record. Details and sources are in each profile below.
| Issue | Sandy IbanezDemocrat | Gary GatesRepublican |
|---|---|---|
| Safety net programs | Keep them about as they areSaid · low | No public position |
| Abortion | No public position | Illegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestSaid · low |
| Guns | No public position | Remove most restrictions; bearing arms is a rightVoted · medium |
| Immigration | No public position | Secure the border first; deport those with criminal records; keep legal immigration steadySaid · medium |
| School choice | No public position | Yes, universal school choice for every familyVoted · medium |
| Curriculum and books | No single answer fits; see evidence | Parents, including the right to remove material they object toVoted · medium |
| Property taxes | No public position | Keep cutting them and cap how fast they can riseSaid · medium |
| Housing and growth | No public position | Allow townhomes and apartments in more places to bring prices downOfficial action · medium |
| Policing and crime | No public position | Tougher sentences, more police funding, and stricter bailVoted · medium |
| Election rules | No public position | Strict photo ID, paper ballots, cleaner voter rolls and fewer mail ballotsVoted · medium |
| Gender care for minors | No public position | No, ban these treatments for minorsVoted · medium |
| Redistricting | No public position | State legislatures draw maps and may redraw any time, including for partisan advantageVoted · medium |
| School vaccines | No public position | Keep requirements with simple personal-belief exemptionsVoted · medium |
| Transgender athletes | No public position | No, teams should be based on biological sex, with open or coed optionsVoted · medium |
| DEI programs | No public position | Ban DEI offices and required training at public institutionsVoted · medium |
| Religion in schools | No public position | Support laws requiring the Ten Commandments in classrooms and optional prayer periodsVoted · medium |
| China policy | No public position | Get tougher: broad tariffs, state bans on land purchases, and forced app salesVoted · medium |
Sandy Ibanez
DemocratCommercial real estate professional and former Fort Bend ISD teacher
Sandy Ibanez is a Democrat and lifelong Fort Bend County resident who graduated from Bush High School and holds a business degree from the University of Houston and an MBA from Western Governors University2. She has taught in Fort Bend ISD, worked as an executive at a Texas fintech company and now works in commercial real estate2. Her campaign lists fully funding public education, healthcare and mental health access, affordability and infrastructure as priorities34.
Where they stand 3 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
Safety net programsKeep them about as they arelow
Said · low confidence- Her campaign site says federal student aid, Medicaid and utility assistance programs that once helped her family are at risk of being cut and that every family deserves the same access to support. (2026) source
Curriculum and booksNo single answer fitslow
Said · low confidence- Her campaign site says decisions about education should remain local because parents and educators know best how to serve their students. (2026) source
Childcare and pre-KNo single answer fitslow
Said · low confidence- In a January 2026 Community Impact Q&A she listed expanding access to childcare support for working families among her top priorities. (2026-01-27) source
No public position found on: Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Abortion, Guns, Immigration, Energy and climate, Texas power grid, AI data centers, School choice, Property taxes, Housing and growth, Policing and crime, Election rules, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Gender care for minors, Redistricting, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Ranked-choice voting, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, China policy.
Gary Gates
Republican · IncumbentTexas State Representative, District 28
Gary Gates is a Republican who has represented Texas House District 28 in Fort Bend County since 20202. His House biography says his family-run real estate business renovated thousands of apartment homes around Houston and created jobs for over 500 people2. He serves on the Appropriations Committee and is vice chair of Urban Affairs and of Resolutions Calendars2, and his campaign site lists property taxes, public schools, border security and being pro-life among its priorities3.
Where they stand 19 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
School choiceYes, universal school choice for every familymedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 2 (2025), relating to the establishment of an education savings account program; it passed the House 86 to 61. (2025-04-17) source
- Voted no on the Raney amendment (Amendment No. 2) to HB 1 (2023, fourth called session), a bill that included the establishment of an education savings account program, which would strike Article 6 of the bill; the House adopted it 84 to 63. (2023-11-17) source
- Was listed as a House cosponsor of SB 2 (2025), relating to the establishment of an education savings account program (2025) source
- Was listed as a House coauthor of HB 3 (2025), relating to the establishment of an education savings account program (2025) source
- His campaign site says he supports public schools and gives parents a choice to determine the best education opportunity for their kids. (2026) source
Religion in schoolsSupport laws requiring the Ten Commandments in classrooms and optional prayer periodsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 10 (2025), relating to the display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms; it passed the House 82 to 46. (2025-05-25) source
- Voted yes on SB 11 (2025), relating to a period of prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious text in public schools; it passed the House 88 to 48. (2025-05-23) source
- Was listed as a House coauthor of HB 1009 (2025), relating to the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools (2025) source
- Was listed as a House coauthor of HB 2696 (2025), relating to the display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms (2025) source
DEI programsBan DEI offices and required training at public institutionsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 12 (2025), relating to parental rights in public education, including requirements and prohibitions regarding instruction and diversity, equity, and inclusion duties; it passed the House 88 to 47. (2025-05-25) source
- Voted yes on SB 17 (2023), relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at public institutions of higher education; it passed the House 83 to 62. (2023-05-22) source
China policyGet tougher: broad tariffs, state bans on land purchases, and forced app salesmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 17 (2025), relating to the purchase or acquisition of real property by certain aliens or foreign entities; it passed the House 86 to 59. (2025-05-09) source
- Was listed as a House cosponsor of SB 17 (2025), relating to the purchase or acquisition of an interest in real property by certain aliens or foreign entities; creating a criminal offense; providing a civil penalty (2025) source
- Was listed as a House coauthor of HB 17 (2025), relating to the purchase of or acquisition of title to real property by certain aliens or foreign entities; creating a criminal offense (2025) source
Curriculum and booksParents, including the right to remove material they object tomedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 13 (2025), relating to school library materials, local school library advisory councils and parental rights regarding library catalogs and access; it passed the House 86 to 55. (2025-05-28) source
- Voted yes on HB 900 (2023), relating to the regulation of library materials sold to or included in public school libraries; it passed the House 95 to 52. (2023-04-20) source
- Was listed as a House coauthor of HB 4198 (2025), relating to the standards for a school district's library collection development policies; providing a civil penalty (2025) source
RedistrictingState legislatures draw maps and may redraw any time, including for partisan advantagemedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on HB 4 (2025, second called session), relating to the composition of the districts for the election of members of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas; it passed the House 88 to 52. (2025-08-20) source
- Was listed as a House coauthor of HB 4 (2025, second called session), relating to the composition of the districts for the election of members of the United States House of Representatives from Texas (2025) source
Election rulesStrict photo ID, paper ballots, cleaner voter rolls and fewer mail ballotsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on the final version of SB 1 (2021, second called session), relating to election integrity and security; the House adopted the conference committee report 80 to 41. (2021-08-31) source
- Was listed as a House cosponsor of SB 16 (2025), relating to requiring a person to submit proof of citizenship to register to vote, including the eligibility of certain voters to vote a limited federal ballot if the voter cannot supply the required proof and the procedures for the counting of those ballots; creating criminal offenses (2025) source
Policing and crimeTougher sentences, more police funding, and stricter bailmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 9 (2025), relating to the confinement or release of defendants before trial or sentencing, including regulating charitable bail organizations and bail procedures; it passed the House 118 to 25. (2025-05-20) source
- Voted yes on HB 1900 (2021), relating to municipalities that adopt budgets that defund municipal police departments; it passed the House 90 to 49. (2021-05-07) source
- Was listed as a House cosponsor of SB 9 (2025), relating to the confinement or release of defendants before trial or sentencing, including regulating charitable bail organizations, and the conditions of and procedures for setting bail and reviewing bail decisions (2025) source
- Was listed as a House cosponsor of SJR 5 (2025), a proposed constitutional amendment requiring the denial of bail under certain circumstances to persons accused of certain offenses punishable as a felony (2025) source
School vaccinesKeep requirements with simple personal-belief exemptionsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on HB 1586 (2025), relating to an exemption from required immunizations for school enrollment; it passed the House 83 to 54. (2025-05-14) source
ImmigrationSecure the border first; deport those with criminal records; keep legal immigration steadymedium
Said · medium confidence- His campaign site says he supports deploying 1,000 additional National Guard troops to help secure the border and increasing penalties for drug and human trafficking. (2026) source
- In a 2026 Community Impact Q&A he said secure borders are important but that immigration has been a powerful source of economic benefit in Houston and should not be shut off. (2026-09-29) source
- Voted yes on SB 4 (2023, fourth called session), relating to prohibitions on illegal entry into or illegal presence in this state by a person who is an alien; it passed the House 83 to 61. (2023-11-14) source
- Voted yes on SB 8 (2025), relating to agreements between sheriffs and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to enforce federal immigration law; it passed the House 86 to 47. (2025-05-25) source
Housing and growthAllow townhomes and apartments in more places to bring prices downmedium
Official action · medium confidence- In a 2026 Community Impact Q&A he said the Legislature should encourage the development of housing supply to make the American Dream more affordable. (2026-09-29) source
- Was listed as a House sponsor of SB 15 (2025), relating to size and density requirements for residential lots in certain municipalities; authorizing a fee (2025) source
- Authored HB 3172 (2025), relating to municipal regulation of multifamily and mixed-use development on religious land (2025) source
- Voted yes on SB 15 (2025), relating to size and density requirements for residential lots in certain municipalities; it passed the House 86 to 43. (2025-05-28) source
- Voted yes on the final version of SB 15 (2025), relating to size and density requirements for residential lots in certain municipalities; the House adopted the conference committee report 78 to 57. (2025-06-01) source
Property taxesKeep cutting them and cap how fast they can risemedium
Said · medium confidence- His campaign site says fighting skyrocketing property taxes is a priority and that he supports reforming the appraisal process. (2026) source
- Was listed as a House cosponsor of SB 4 (2025), relating to an increase in the amount of the exemption of residence homesteads from ad valorem taxation by a school district and the protection of school districts against certain losses in local revenue (2025) source
- Was listed as a House coauthor of HB 8 (2025), relating to a reduction in the maximum compressed tax rate of a school district (2025) source
Gender care for minorsNo, ban these treatments for minorsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 14 (2023), relating to prohibitions on the provision to certain children of procedures and treatments for gender transitioning; it passed the House 87 to 56. (2023-05-15) source
Transgender athletesNo, teams should be based on biological sex, with open or coed optionsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on HB 25 (2021, third called session), relating to requiring public school students to compete in interscholastic athletics based on biological sex; it passed the House 76 to 54. (2021-10-14) source
- Voted yes on SB 15 (2023), relating to requiring public institution of higher education students who compete in intercollegiate athletics to compete based on biological sex; it passed the House 95 to 50. (2023-05-18) source
GunsRemove most restrictions; bearing arms is a rightmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on HB 1927 (2021), relating to the carrying of a firearm by a person 21 or older who is not otherwise prohibited from possessing one; it passed the House 87 to 58. (2021-04-16) source
- Voted yes on the final version of HB 1927 (2021), relating to the carrying of a firearm by a person 21 or older who is not otherwise prohibited from possessing one; the House adopted the conference committee report 82 to 62. (2021-05-23) source
AbortionIllegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestlow
Said · low confidence- His campaign site says he is 100 percent pro-life and will fight in the state house to protect each life. (2026) source
- Voted yes on SB 8 (2021), relating to abortion, including abortions after detection of an unborn child's heartbeat; it passed the House 83 to 64. (2021-05-06) source
- Voted yes on HB 1280 (2021), relating to prohibition of abortion; it passed the House 81 to 61. (2021-05-06) source
- Voted yes on HB 7 (2025, second called session), relating to prohibitions on the manufacture and provision of abortion-inducing drugs; it passed the House 82 to 48. (2025-08-28) source
AI data centersNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 6 (2025), relating to the planning for, interconnection and operation of, and costs related to providing service for certain electrical loads; it passed the House 103 to 25. (2025-05-27) source
MarijuanaNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted no on HB 441 (2021), relating to the criminal and licensing consequences of certain marihuana possession and drug paraphernalia possession offenses; it passed the House 88 to 40. (2021-04-30) source
- Voted yes on HB 218 (2023), relating to the criminal and licensing consequences of certain offenses relating to the possession of marihuana and certain THC compounds; it passed the House 87 to 59. (2023-04-27) source
- Voted yes on HB 46 (2025), relating to the medical use of low-THC cannabis and the administration of the Texas Compassionate-Use Program; it passed the House 122 to 21. (2025-05-13) source
- Voted yes on SB 3 (2025), relating to the regulation of products derived from hemp, including consumable hemp products; it passed the House 87 to 54. (2025-05-22) source
Kids onlineNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted no on HB 186 (2025), relating to prohibiting use of social media platforms by children; it passed the House 116 to 25. (2025-04-30) source
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Energy and climate, Texas power grid, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Ranked-choice voting, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate.
Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.