Central Texas Deserves a Fighter for Housing, Transit, and Working Families
It’s clear that to make lasting progress on housing equity and walkable, transit-oriented communities, we need strong allies in the Texas House. That’s why Friends of Hyde Park is proud to endorse Montserrat Garibay in the upcoming Democratic primary for Texas House District 49.
Montserrat is a lifelong Austinite, a bilingual educator, a labor leader, and a former senior official in the Biden-Harris Department of Education. Her journey, from an undocumented child to a pre-K teacher, union vice president, and the first Latina elected Secretary-Treasurer of the Texas AFL-CIO, shows she knows how to organize, fight, and win for working families.
But for us, what stands out is her clear commitment to the pro-housing, pro-transit future Austin needs. Montserrat understands that the right to stay in our community depends on building more homes near jobs, schools, and transit.
In the Texas House, she will:
- Increase affordable housing, incentivize “missing middle” construction, and reduce displacement and gentrification
- Create pathways to homeownership through state-level down payment assistance, low-interest loan programs, and tax credits
- Strengthen eviction protections for renters
- Invest in public transit, including regional and high speed rail, and expand multimodal infrastructure such as sidewalks, protected bike lanes, and safe routes to schools
Montserrat has earned an impressive set of endorsements – including U.S. Representative Greg Casar, Austin Council Members Zo Qadri (District 9), Vanessa Fuentes (District 2), José Velásquez (District 3), Chito Vela (District 4), and Mike Siegel (District 7). She is also backed by former state Senator Wendy Davis, Travis County Attorney Delia Garza, and many Austin ISD trustees.
Central Austin deserves a pro-housing voice and in the Texas Legislature Montserrat Garibay will be that voice. She will fight to remove state-imposed barriers to housing and transit, and she will help create a more affordable, walkable, and inclusive Austin.
Friends of Hyde Park urges you to vote for Montserrat Garibay in the Democratic primary for Texas House District 49.
Early Voting: May 18–22
Election Day: May 26
More information at:
https://www.montserratfortexas.com/
Board of Directors of Friends of Hyde Park
Pete Gilcrease
Thomas Ates
Matt Desloge
Teresa Griffin
Tania Oropeza
Scott Snyder