Who is running for State Representative District 76 in 2026?
Here are the candidates for State Representative District 76 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for voters in Texas House District 76.
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 | Suleman LalaniDemocrat | Linda HowellRepublican |
|---|---|---|
| Safety net programs | Expand help for childcare, housing and paid family leaveSaid · low | No public position |
| Guns | Add universal background checks and red-flag lawsOfficial action · medium | No public position |
| School choice | No, keep public money in traditional public schoolsVoted · high | No public position |
| Property taxes | Keep cutting them and cap how fast they can riseOfficial action · medium | Keep cutting them and cap how fast they can riseSaid · low |
| Housing and growth | Allow townhomes and apartments in more places to bring prices downVoted · low | No public position |
| Policing and crime | Tougher sentences, more police funding, and stricter bailVoted · low | No public position |
| Marijuana | Decriminalize small amounts (fines, not jail)Voted · low | No public position |
| AI regulation | Let each state write its own targeted AI rulesOfficial action · medium | No public position |
| Kids online | Ban social media accounts for minorsVoted · medium | No public position |
| Nuclear power | Back new reactors with public funds, tax credits, and streamlined approvalsOfficial action · medium | No public position |
Suleman Lalani
Democrat · IncumbentTexas State Representative, District 76
Suleman Lalani, M.D., is a Democrat who has represented Texas House District 76, which includes Sugar Land, Stafford, Richmond and Meadows Place, since being elected in 20222. He is a physician board certified in internal medicine, geriatric medicine and hospice and palliative medicine, and says he is the only general practitioner in the Legislature2. He is vice chair of the Land and Resource Management Committee2, and his 2026 campaign lists expanding Medicaid and repealing the school voucher program among its priorities4.
Where they stand 20 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
School choiceNo, keep public money in traditional public schoolshigh
Voted · high confidence- In a September 2026 Community Impact Q&A he said repealing Gov. Abbott's private school voucher program is a top priority. (2026-09-29) source
- Voted no 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 yes 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
GunsAdd universal background checks and red-flag lawsmedium
Official action · medium confidence- Authored HB 397 (2025), relating to requiring a national instant criminal background check in connection with private firearm transfers; creating a criminal offense (2025) source
- Authored HB 306 (2025), relating to prohibiting certain transfers, purchases, and possession of firearms; creating a criminal offense (2025) source
- Authored HB 352 (2025), relating to prohibiting the transfer of firearms to certain recipients (2025) source
Nuclear powerBack new reactors with public funds, tax credits, and streamlined approvalsmedium
Official action · medium confidence- Was listed as a House coauthor of HB 14 (2025), relating to support for the development of the nuclear energy industry (2025) source
AI regulationLet each state write its own targeted AI rulesmedium
Official action · medium confidence- Was listed as a House coauthor of HB 149 (2025), relating to regulation of the use of artificial intelligence systems in this state; providing civil penalties (2025) source
Kids onlineBan social media accounts for minorsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes 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
- Was listed as a House coauthor of HB 499 (2025), relating to a warning label on certain social media platforms concerning the association between a minor's social media usage and significant mental health issues (2025) source
Property taxesKeep cutting them and cap how fast they can risemedium
Official action · medium confidence- 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 cosponsor of SJR 2 (2025), a proposed constitutional amendment to increase the amount of the exemption of residence homesteads from ad valorem taxation by a school district (2025) source
Safety net programsExpand help for childcare, housing and paid family leavelow
Said · low confidence- In a September 2026 Community Impact Q&A he said improving healthcare access is his priority, especially expanding Medicaid, and that he will keep working to expand Medicaid eligibility. (2026-09-29) source
- In a September 2024 Community Impact Q&A he said he would reintroduce legislation to expand Medicaid in Texas under the Affordable Care Act. (2024-09-30) source
- Authored HB 895 (2025), 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; imposing penalties (2025) source
MarijuanaDecriminalize small amounts (fines, not jail)low
Voted · low confidence- 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
- Authored HB 46 (2025), relating to the medical use of low-THC cannabis under and the administration of the Texas Compassionate-Use Program; requiring registration (2025) 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
- 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
Housing and growthAllow townhomes and apartments in more places to bring prices downlow
Voted · low confidence- 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
Policing and crimeTougher sentences, more police funding, and stricter baillow
Voted · low 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
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
AbortionNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted no 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
- Was listed as a House coauthor of HB 44 (2025), relating to exceptions to otherwise prohibited abortions based on a physician's reasonable medical judgment (2025) source
- Was listed as a House cosponsor of SB 31 (2025), relating to exceptions to otherwise prohibited abortions based on a physician's reasonable medical judgment (2025) source
Religion in schoolsNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted no 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 no 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
Curriculum and booksNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted no 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
- Voted no 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
DEI programsNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted no 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
- Voted no 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
Gender care for minorsNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted no 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 single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted no 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
ImmigrationNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted no 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
China policyNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted no 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
RedistrictingNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted no 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
No public position found on: Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Energy and climate, Texas power grid, Election rules, 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, School vaccines, E-Verify mandate.
Linda Howell
RepublicanFormer Fort Bend County Republican Party chair
Linda Howell is a Republican who says she has served as Fort Bend Republican Party chairman and on the HAR board of directors and lists decades of experience in education, civic leadership and nonprofit service4. She is running for House District 76 on a platform of property tax relief, small business growth, affordability and keeping communities safe23.
Where they stand 1 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
Property taxesKeep cutting them and cap how fast they can riselow
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, Curriculum and books, 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.