In 2009, Josh Reyna walked into the Texas Capitol for the first time as an intern. Sixteen years later, he’s running to represent District 49, which includes UT and West Campus, in the Texas House of Representatives.
Reyna, D-Austin, currently works as the chief of staff and general counsel in the Texas Senate for Sen. César Blanco, D-El Paso. He officially filed to run on Saturday, according to an Instagram post, after learning the current incumbent for the seat, Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin, would be running for governor.
Reyna said if he wins, his office will have a permanent internship program for students as well as a Student Advisory Committee. This committee would be tied to the House District 49 office to help create legislation, bills and provide year-round policy guidance with the help of students.
“Students deserve to be listened to all year, not just election season,” Reyna said. “Students deserve a seat at the table of their state government, and that’s what I committed to doing.”
A priority for Reyna is housing and affordability, he said. Reyna has worked on housing and density requirements in the legislature already directed at increasing housing supply and lowering costs in West Campus and across the city. He said the state needs a comprehensive housing approach that accounts for different needs, from students to young adults, families and older people.
Another pressing issue for Reyna is protecting student and faculty rights, along with academic freedom, he said. In terms of President Donald Trump’s academic compact, which would prioritize federal funding for UT if it took certain steps to align with the administration, Reyna said, “We need to say, ‘Hell no.’”
“We are dangerously approaching indoctrination and moving away from the University’s mission of education and teaching students how to think critically and think for themselves,” Reyna said.
Reyna is also committed to protecting LGBTQ+ rights and promoting veteran protections, he said. He also wants to reinstall diversity, equity and inclusion policies to “keep and provide safe spaces,” he said.
Reyna is running against a crowded list of Democratic candidates, including former City Council member Kathie Tovo and Montserrat Garibay, a former assistant deputy secretary in the U.S. Department of Education. He is also competing against UT student Arshia Papari, a Green Party candidate.
“District 49 is uniquely competitive and uniquely filled with political talent,” wrote Mark Strama, director of the Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life, in an email. “Because both the University and the state Capitol are in the district, there are countless people who work in and around the University, or in and around the Capitol, who have the skills and the interest to seek the office.”
Reyna said he is the most qualified candidate in the race because of his almost two decades of direct involvement at the Capitol. The race ultimately boils down to experience because the other candidates have very similar views to him, Reyna said.
“We’re not running for City Hall. We’re not running to run an education advocacy group. We’re not running to reform the appraisal district board,” Reyna said. “We’re running for state representative in the Texas Capitol, and that’s where I’ve been working for 16 years.”
