Pooja Sethi Announces Texas House Bid

Pooja Sethi (D), the former chair of the Travis County Democratic Party and current chief of staff to State Rep. Vikki Goodwin (D), has officially launched her campaign for Texas House District 47. The seat represents parts of western Travis County.

With state Rep. Goodwin challenging Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick (R) rather than seeking re-election, Sethi is aiming to step into a seat she has helped support behind the scenes.

“I’ve spent years working in the district – helping families, passing legislation, and navigating the Capitol,” she said in her announcement. “I’m prepared to step in on day one and fight for the future our district deserves.”

In an advertisement announcing her candidacy, Sethi shared that the Trump Administration has created a divisive political climate that has negatively impacted the country.

“That is not Texas,” she warned. “That is a state divided by fear and cruelty. It is a Texas that forgets who we are.”

Sethi previously ran for Austin City Council in 2020, finishing third in the first round with 18% of the vote. She did not advance to the runoff. However, she developed name recognition and a base of progressive supporters.

If she is elected, Sethi’s campaign vows to prioritize public education, reproductive rights, access to healthcare, water infrastructure, and community safety, which are key issues in a growing and increasingly engaged suburban district.

Sethi is currently the only declared candidate in the Democratic primary, and she could have a clear path to the nomination in March 2026. State Rep. Goodwin won the district by over 20 points in the 2024 general election, making it a Democratic stronghold.

The Democratic primary for HD-47 will be held March 3, 2026, and the general election will take place on November 3.