Who is running for State Representative District 49 in 2026?
Here are the candidates for State Representative District 49 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for voters in Texas House District 49.
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 | Montserrat GaribayDemocrat | Arshia PapariGreen |
|---|---|---|
| Safety net programs | Expand help for childcare, housing and paid family leaveSaid · medium | No public position |
| Healthcare | No public position | Government-run coverage for everyone (Medicare for All)Said · low |
| Abortion | Legal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)Said · low | No public position |
| Guns | Add universal background checks and red-flag lawsSaid · medium | No public position |
| AI data centers | No public position | Stop new large data centers and end their tax breaksSaid · medium |
| School choice | No, keep public money in traditional public schoolsSaid · medium | No, keep public money in traditional public schoolsSaid · medium |
| Curriculum and books | Keep access broad; removals should be rareSaid · medium | No public position |
| Housing and growth | Allow townhomes and apartments in more places to bring prices downSaid · medium | No public position |
| Policing and crime | Fund police and add reforms like body cameras and use-of-force limitsSaid · medium | Major reform: much less incarceration and a smaller role for policeSaid · medium |
| Election rules | Easier access: automatic registration and mail voting for anyoneSaid · medium | No public position |
| Marijuana | Legalize and regulate it like alcoholSaid · medium | No public position |
| Qualified immunity | No public position | No, end it for police so officers or departments can be sued for rights violationsSaid · medium |
| Childcare and pre-K | Offer free pre-K to every 4-year-old, and expand childcare aidSaid · medium | Guarantee low-cost childcare for all families plus universal pre-KSaid · medium |
| Paid leave | Create a national paid family and medical leave program plus paid sick daysSaid · medium | No public position |
Montserrat Garibay
DemocratFormer U.S. Department of Education official and labor leader
Montserrat Garibay is a former Austin ISD pre-K teacher and labor leader who lists a role as Assistant Deputy Secretary at the U.S. Department of Education4. She won the May 2026 Democratic primary runoff over Kathie Tovo3 and faces Green Party candidate Arshia Papari for the open District 49 seat; no Republican is on the ballot35.
Where they stand 12 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
School choiceNo, keep public money in traditional public schoolsmedium
Said · medium confidence- In her 2026 ATPE survey she said public dollars do not belong in private schools, that she opposes private school vouchers and wants the existing program repealed, and that she does not support expanding charter schools. (2026) source
Curriculum and booksKeep access broad; removals should be raremedium
Said · medium confidenceSafety net programsExpand help for childcare, housing and paid family leavemedium
Said · medium confidence- Her campaign issues page calls for expanding Medicaid, making childcare more affordable, and passing paid medical, sick, parental and family leave. (2026-05) source
Paid leaveCreate a national paid family and medical leave program plus paid sick daysmedium
Said · medium confidence- Her campaign issues page says to pass paid medical, sick, parental, family care and bereavement leave. (2026-05) source
Housing and growthAllow townhomes and apartments in more places to bring prices downmedium
Said · medium confidence- Her campaign issues page says to increase affordable housing, incentivize missing middle construction, and reduce displacement. (2026-05) source
Childcare and pre-KOffer free pre-K to every 4-year-old, and expand childcare aidmedium
MarijuanaLegalize and regulate it like alcoholmedium
GunsAdd universal background checks and red-flag lawsmedium
Said · medium confidence- Her campaign issues page calls for universal background checks, closing gun show and private sale loopholes, and red flag laws. (2026-05) source
Election rulesEasier access: automatic registration and mail voting for anyonemedium
Said · medium confidence- Her campaign issues page calls for online, same-day and automatic voter registration, an end to voter purges, and fewer barriers to casting a ballot. (2026-05) source
Policing and crimeFund police and add reforms like body cameras and use-of-force limitsmedium
Said · medium confidence- Her campaign issues page calls for a community-policing model centered on de-escalation, responsible use of force and building community trust, and opposes attempts to mandate cash bail and expand pre-trial detention. (2026-05) source
AbortionLegal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)low
Said · low confidence- Her campaign issues page says to guarantee reproductive freedom, including access to abortion, family planning and comprehensive care without barriers. (2026-05) source
Minimum wageNo single answer fitslow
Said · low confidence- Her campaign issues page says to raise the minimum wage and eliminate the subminimum wage for youth or tipped workers. (2026-05) source
No public position found on: Business regulation, Healthcare, Immigration, Energy and climate, Texas power grid, AI data centers, Property taxes, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Gender care for minors, Redistricting, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Ranked-choice voting, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, China policy.
Arshia Papari
GreenUniversity student
Arshia Papari is a University of Texas at Austin student of government and Middle Eastern studies, a second-generation Iranian American and a member of the Green Party4. He is the Green Party candidate for the open District 49 seat and faces Democrat Montserrat Garibay; no Republican is on the ballot53.
Where they stand 6 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
Childcare and pre-KGuarantee low-cost childcare for all families plus universal pre-Kmedium
Said · medium confidence- His platform calls for universal childcare and universal, extended paid parental leave. (2026) source
Qualified immunityNo, end it for police so officers or departments can be sued for rights violationsmedium
Said · medium confidence- His platform calls for ending qualified immunity for law enforcement misconduct. (2026) source
Policing and crimeMajor reform: much less incarceration and a smaller role for policemedium
Said · medium confidence- His platform calls for rehabilitation over incarceration, limiting police to violent crime, mental health specialists in law enforcement, and ending the bail system. (2026) source
School choiceNo, keep public money in traditional public schoolsmedium
Said · medium confidence- His platform calls the school voucher program a scam and lists strengthening public schools as a priority. (2026) source
AI data centersStop new large data centers and end their tax breaksmedium
Said · medium confidence- In an August 2026 Community Impact Q&A he said the Legislature should ban AI data centers that strain power, water and infrastructure. (2026-08-24) source
HealthcareGovernment-run coverage for everyone (Medicare for All)low
Said · low confidence- In an August 2026 Community Impact Q&A he listed creating universal healthcare among his priorities. (2026-08-24) source
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Abortion, Guns, Immigration, Energy and climate, Texas power grid, Curriculum and books, Property taxes, Housing and growth, Election rules, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Gender care for minors, Redistricting, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Ranked-choice voting, Death penalty, 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.
Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.