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
Linda HowellBefore running for office she spent years as a Sugar Land realtor and chaired the Fort Bend County Republican Party.
About Linda
Linda Howell is a longtime Fort Bend County civic leader who has worked as a real estate agent and served as Fort Bend Republican Party Chairman, alongside roles on local business and charitable boards. She won the 2026 Republican primary for House District 76, arguing the district has been 'underrepresented' and pledging to fight for lower property taxes and more state investment in flood mitigation and infrastructure. She faces incumbent Suleman Lalani in the November general election.
Suleman LalaniHe's a Sugar Land doctor who spent nearly 30 years treating patients before becoming one of the first two Muslim members ever elected to the Texas Legislature.
About Suleman
Dr. Suleman Lalani immigrated to the U.S. in the early 1990s and built a decades-long medical practice in internal medicine, geriatrics, and hospice care in the Sugar Land and Houston area. He was first elected to the Texas House in 2022 and is now the only practicing general-practice physician in the Legislature, focusing on healthcare access, maternal health, and mental health. He's running for a third term representing House District 76 in Fort Bend County.