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Texas general election: November 3, 2026

Who is running for Texas House, District 144 in 2026?

Here are the candidates for Texas House, District 144 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for voters in Texas House District 144.

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.

IssueDavid FloresRepublicanMary Ann PerezDemocrat
Texas power gridNo public positionPay for more backup natural gas plantsVoted · medium
AI data centersNo public positionWelcome them, but make them pay their full share of grid and water costsVoted · medium
School choiceYes, universal school choice for every familySaid · lowNo, keep public money in traditional public schoolsVoted · medium
Curriculum and booksParents, including the right to remove material they object toSaid · lowNo single answer fits; see evidence
Property taxesKeep cutting them and cap how fast they can riseSaid · mediumNo single answer fits; see evidence
Policing and crimeTougher sentences, more police funding, and stricter bailSaid · mediumNo single answer fits; see evidence
Election rulesStrict photo ID, paper ballots, cleaner voter rolls and fewer mail ballotsSaid · mediumNo single answer fits; see evidence
MarijuanaNo public positionDecriminalize small amounts (fines, not jail)Voted · medium
Mandatory minimumsNo public positionAdd or lengthen them for serious crimes like fentanyl traffickingVoted · medium
Kids onlineNo public positionBan social media accounts for minorsVoted · medium

David Flores

Republican

Private citizen

David Flores is a Republican business owner and former Pasadena city employee who has run twice for mayor of Pasadena and is making his first bid for the state House2. His campaign says he owns GS Advanced Industry, which handles construction, industrial and import-export projects4. His campaign lists property tax cuts, election rules, coastal insurance costs, public safety and school choice as his issues3.

Where they stand 5 issues · tap any issue for the evidence

  • Property taxesKeep cutting them and cap how fast they can risemedium
    Said · medium confidence
    • His campaign says he will cut property taxes rather than just slow their growth, use state budget surpluses to buy down local property taxes, cap appraisal growth and deliver permanent tax relief. (2026) source
  • Election rulesStrict photo ID, paper ballots, cleaner voter rolls and fewer mail ballotsmedium
    Said · medium confidence
    • His campaign says he will require ID to register to vote, maintain strict voter ID laws, clean up voter rolls, increase transparency in vote counting and prosecute election fraud. (2026) source
  • Policing and crimeTougher sentences, more police funding, and stricter bailmedium
    Said · medium confidence
    • His campaign says he will back law enforcement, increase penalties for violent criminals, end soft-on-crime policies and stop what it calls radical bail reforms. (2026) source
  • School choiceYes, universal school choice for every familylow
    Said · low confidence
    • His campaign says he supports school choice options and parental rights in education. (2026) source
  • Curriculum and booksParents, including the right to remove material they object tolow
    Said · low confidence
    • His campaign says parents should be in charge of their children's education and that he will protect parental rights, ensure transparency in school curriculum and stop political indoctrination in classrooms. (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, Housing and growth, 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.

Mary Ann Perez

Democrat · Incumbent

State Representative, Texas House District 144

Mary Ann Perez is a Democrat who has served in the Texas House since 2017 and represents District 144, which includes parts of Pasadena and South Houston2. She is vice chair of the House Transportation Committee2. No 2026 candidate questionnaire answers or campaign issue statements from her were found, so her profile is based on her House votes.

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

  • School choiceNo, keep public money in traditional public schoolsmedium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Voted no on SB 2 (2025), which created a state education savings account program that can pay for private school; it passed the House 86 to 61. (2025-04-17) source
    • Voted yes on the Raney amendment to HB 1 (2023 fourth special session), which removed the education savings account (voucher) program from the bill; it was adopted 84 to 63. (2023-11-17) 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 (2025), 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
  • Texas power gridPay for more backup natural gas plantsmedium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Voted yes on SB 2627 (2023), which created state loans for new or upgraded dispatchable power plants; it passed the House 118 to 23. (2023-05-23) source
  • Mandatory minimumsAdd or lengthen them for serious crimes like fentanyl traffickingmedium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Voted yes on HB 6 (2023), which allows murder charges for fentanyl poisoning deaths and increased penalties for certain drug offenses; it passed the House 124 to 21. (2023-04-28) source
  • MarijuanaDecriminalize small amounts (fines, not jail)medium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Voted yes on HB 441 (2021), which reduced criminal penalties for possessing small amounts of marijuana; it passed the House 88 to 40 but not the Senate. (2021-04-30) source
    • Voted yes on HB 218 (2023), which reduced criminal penalties for possessing small amounts of marijuana; it passed the House 87 to 59 but not the Senate. (2023-04-27) source
    • Voted yes on HB 46 (2025), 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 (2025), 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
  • Kids onlineBan social media accounts for minorsmedium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Voted yes on the final version of HB 18 (2023), which requires digital services to verify users' ages, give parents tools and limit harmful content for minors; the House approved it 120 to 21. (2023-05-28) source
    • Voted yes on HB 186 (2025), 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
  • AbortionNo single answer fitsmedium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Voted no on SB 8 (2021), which banned most abortions once cardiac activity is detected and let private citizens sue people who help provide them; it passed the House 83 to 64. (2021-05-06) source
    • Voted no on HB 1280 (2021), which banned abortion, with an exception for the life or serious health risk of the mother, once Roe v. Wade was overturned; it passed the House 81 to 61. (2021-05-06) source
    • Voted no on HB 7 (2025 second special session), which restricted the making and distribution of abortion-inducing drugs; it passed the House 82 to 48. (2025-08-28) source
  • GunsNo single answer fitsmedium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Voted no on HB 1927 (2021), which allows adults 21 and older to carry handguns without a license; it passed the House 82 to 62. (2021-05-23) source
  • Election rulesNo single answer fitsmedium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Voted no on SB 1 (2021 second special session), the election law that added ID requirements for mail ballots, banned drive-through and 24-hour voting and expanded poll watcher access; it passed the House 80 to 41. (2021-08-31) source
  • Transgender athletesNo single answer fitsmedium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Voted no on HB 25 (2021 third special session), which requires public school athletes to compete based on biological sex; it passed the House 76 to 54. (2021-10-14) source
    • Voted no on SB 15 (2023), which requires college athletes at public universities to compete based on biological sex; it passed the House 95 to 50. (2023-05-18) source
  • Gender care for minorsNo single answer fitsmedium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Voted no on SB 14 (2023), which banned gender transition treatments such as puberty blockers and hormones for minors; it passed the House 87 to 56. (2023-05-15) source
  • DEI programsNo single answer fitsmedium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Voted no on SB 17 (2023), 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 (2025), 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 (2025), 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 (2025), 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
  • China policyNo single answer fitsmedium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Voted no on SB 17 (2025), which restricts purchases of Texas land by governments, companies and people from certain countries, including China; it passed the House 86 to 59. (2025-05-09) source
  • ImmigrationNo single answer fitsmedium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Voted no on SB 4 (2023 fourth special session), 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 (2025), which requires certain sheriffs to enter agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to help enforce federal immigration law; it passed the House 86 to 47. (2025-05-25) source
  • RedistrictingNo single answer fitsmedium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Voted no on HB 4 (2025 second special session), the mid-decade redrawing of Texas congressional districts; it passed the House 88 to 52. (2025-08-20) source
  • Property taxesNo single answer fitsmedium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Voted no on SB 10 (2025 second special session), which changed how the voter-approval tax rate is calculated for certain local governments; it passed the House 78 to 52 but did not become law. (2025-08-25) source
  • Policing and crimeNo single answer fitsmedium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Voted no on HB 1900 (2021), which penalizes large cities that cut police budgets; it passed the House 90 to 49. (2021-05-07) source
    • Voted yes on SB 9 (2025), which tightened bail procedures and regulated charitable bail organizations; it passed the House 118 to 25. (2025-05-20) source
  • Housing and growthNo single answer fitsmedium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Voted no on SB 15 (2025), 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 (2025), which bars certain large cities from requiring large minimum lot sizes for new homes; the House approved it 78 to 57. (2025-06-01) source
  • Curriculum and booksNo single answer fitsmedium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Voted no on HB 900 (2023), which set state standards for library materials sold to or kept in public school libraries; it passed the House 95 to 52. (2023-04-20) source
    • Voted no on the final version of SB 13 (2025), which set up local school library advisory councils and gave parents more say over school library materials; the House approved it 81 to 48. (2025-05-31) source

No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Energy and climate, 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, School vaccines, 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.