AUSTIN (KXAN) – Pooja Sethi, former chair of the Travis County Democratic Party, officially declared Tuesday that she is running for one of Austin’s seats in the Texas House of Representatives.
Sethi currently serves as the chief of staff for Rep. Vikki Goodwin, who recently announced she would seek the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor, not seeking reelection in HD-47.
“I’ve spent years working in the working in the district- helping families, passing legislation, and navigating the Capitol. I’m prepared to step in day on and fight for the future our District deserves,” Sethi wrote in the announcement.
Sethi previously sought election to the Austin City Council in 2020, challenging then-Councilwoman Alison Alter. She garnered 18% of the vote in the first round and did not advance to the runoff.
Sethi’s campaign says if elected, she will focus on public education, abortion rights, healthcare, water infrastructure and safety in Texas communities. If Sethi wins the primary, in which she is currently the only declared candidate, she could likely win the district that Goodwin won by more than 20 points in 2024.
The Democratic primary for HD-47 will be held March 3, 2026, with the general election Nov. 3, 2026.
