About this office
Your State Representative is one of 150 people who write Texas law, and yours is elected to represent your area of Hays County. Every two years they decide how much money your kids' school gets, whether your property tax bill goes up or down, and whether Texas takes federal money for health care or turns it away. Big decisions, made by a small group — and one seat is yours to fill.
Candidates
Janie LopezLopez, first elected in 2022 and running for a third term, was endorsed by Gov. Greg Abbott for her support of private school vouchers, which the legislature passed in 2025.
About Janie
She has voted for a $1.5 billion taxpayer-funded border wall and a 10-year minimum sentence for people who harbor undocumented immigrants.
Oziel Ochoa Jr.Ochoa spent 17 years in Harlingen-area public schools as a teacher, coach, assistant principal and principal before becoming Director of Special Education for a local school district.
About Oziel
He's the son of a Bronze Star Vietnam veteran and a longtime Harlingen CISD child-nutrition worker, and he won the Democratic runoff with 62% of the vote.