Who is running for State Representative District 51 in 2026?
Here are the candidates for State Representative District 51 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for voters in Texas House District 51.
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 | Maria Luisa "Lulu" FloresDemocrat | Jessica MartinezRepublican |
|---|---|---|
| Safety net programs | Expand help for childcare, housing and paid family leaveOfficial action · medium | No public position |
| Abortion | Legal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)Official action · medium | No public position |
| School choice | No, keep public money in traditional public schoolsSaid · high | No public position |
| Curriculum and books | Keep access broad; removals should be rareSaid · medium | Parents, including the right to remove material they object toSaid · low |
| Property taxes | No public position | Keep cutting them and cap how fast they can riseSaid · medium |
| Housing and growth | Allow townhomes and apartments in more places to bring prices downVoted · low | No public position |
| Marijuana | Decriminalize small amounts (fines, not jail)Voted · medium | No public position |
| Ranked-choice voting | Let cities and counties choose it for local racesOfficial action · medium | No public position |
| Death penalty | Abolish it and use life without parole insteadOfficial action · medium | No public position |
| Kids online | Ban social media accounts for minorsVoted · medium | No public position |
Maria Luisa "Lulu" Flores
Democrat · IncumbentTexas State Representative, District 51
Lulu Flores is a Democrat and law firm partner who has represented Texas House District 51 in Austin since her election in 2022115. She is a former president of the National Women's Political Caucus and began her legislative career on the staff of Rep. Irma Rangel15. She ran unopposed in the Democratic primary1 and faces Republican Jessica Martinez16.
Where they stand 10 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
School choiceNo, keep public money in traditional public schoolshigh
Said · high confidence- In her 2026 ATPE survey she said she is opposed to the voucher program, wants it reversed and defunded, and wants the money spent on neighborhood public schools. (2026) source
- Voted yes on Amendment No. 2 to HB 1 (2023, fourth called session), removing the education savings account program from the bill; it was adopted 84 to 63. (2023-11-17) source
- Voted no on SB 2 (2025), creating an education savings account program that can pay for private school; it passed the House 86 to 61. (2025-04-17) source
Curriculum and booksKeep access broad; removals should be raremedium
Said · medium confidence- In her 2026 ATPE survey she said the state should worry less about banning books and controlling speech and more about critical thinking, and that children should be taught real history. (2026) source
- Voted no on HB 900 (2023), regulating library materials sold to or kept in public school libraries; it passed the House 95 to 52. (2023-04-20) source
- Voted no on SB 13 (2025), creating 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 SB 13 (2025, conference committee report), creating local school library advisory councils and parental rights over school library materials; the House adopted the conference committee report 81 to 48. (2025-05-31) source
AbortionLegal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)medium
Official action · medium confidence- Authored HB 5237 (2025), relating to wrongful death actions arising from the death of an unborn child resulting from an abortion; the bill text provides that the wrongful death law does not apply to a death resulting from an abortion. (2025) source
- Voted no on HB 7 (2025, second called session), restricting the making and providing of abortion-inducing drugs; it passed the House 82 to 48. (2025-08-28) source
- Was listed as a House coauthor of HB 979 (2023), relating to the repeal of and exceptions to certain laws prohibiting abortion. (2023) source
- Was listed as a House coauthor of HB 3586 (2023), relating to the coverage and provision of abortion and contraception under a health benefit plan and certain programs administered by this state. (2023) source
MarijuanaDecriminalize small amounts (fines, not jail)medium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on HB 218 (2023), reducing the penalties for certain marijuana possession offenses; it passed the House 87 to 59. (2023-04-27) source
- Voted yes on HB 46 (2025), expanding medical use of low-THC cannabis under the Texas Compassionate-Use Program; it passed the House 122 to 21. (2025-05-13) source
- Was listed as a House coauthor of HB 1146 (2025), relating to the medical use of low-THC cannabis by patients with certain medical conditions. (2025) source
Kids onlineBan social media accounts for minorsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on HB 186 (2025), banning social media accounts for minors; it passed the House 116 to 25. (2025-04-30) source
Ranked-choice votingLet cities and counties choose it for local racesmedium
Official action · medium confidence- Authored HB 2825 (2023), relating to the use of preferential voting in an election of officers of a municipality. (2023) source
Safety net programsExpand help for childcare, housing and paid family leavemedium
Official action · medium confidence- Was listed as a House coauthor of HB 652 (2023), relating to the development and implementation of the Live Well Texas program and the expansion of Medicaid eligibility to provide health benefit coverage to certain individuals. (2023) source
- Was listed as a House coauthor of HB 3059 (2025), relating to the establishment of a paid parental leave program administered by the Texas Workforce Commission; imposing an employer contribution. (2025) source
Death penaltyAbolish it and use life without parole insteadmedium
Official action · medium confidenceHousing and growthAllow townhomes and apartments in more places to bring prices downlow
Voted · low confidence- Voted yes on SB 15 (2025), barring certain large cities from requiring large minimum residential lot sizes; it passed the House 86 to 43. (2025-05-28) source
- Voted yes on SB 15 (2025, conference committee report), barring certain large cities from requiring large minimum residential lot sizes; the House adopted the conference committee report 78 to 57. (2025-06-01) source
AI data centersNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 6 (2025), setting grid connection and cost rules for very large power users such as data centers; it passed the House 103 to 25. (2025-05-27) source
No public position found on: Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Guns, Immigration, Energy and climate, Texas power grid, Property taxes, Policing and crime, Election rules, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Gender care for minors, Redistricting, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, School vaccines, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, China policy.
Jessica Martinez
RepublicanNo public office found
Jessica Martinez is the Republican nominee for Texas House District 51 and faces incumbent Democrat Lulu Flores1. She won the Republican primary2. Her campaign site lists cutting or eliminating property taxes, funding law enforcement, clean water and lower utility costs among her priorities3.
Where they stand 2 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
Property taxesKeep cutting them and cap how fast they can risemedium
Said · medium confidence- Her campaign site says she will support legislation to eliminate or cut property taxes and make home ownership possible again for young families. (2026) source
Curriculum and booksParents, including the right to remove material they object tolow
Said · low confidence- Her campaign site says she will defend parents' right to guide their children's education. (2026) source
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Abortion, Guns, Immigration, Energy and climate, Texas power grid, AI data centers, School choice, 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, Childcare and pre-K, 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.