Lone Star Left Endorses Gigs Hodges For HD49

A progressive case for the boldest candidate in HD49.

Before we get into why I picked Gigs Hodges for my HD49 endorsement, I want to explain how I typically choose my endorsements, since so many Democrats are fighting for this one seat. Lone Star Left is a partisan newsletter and falls to the left side of the big Democratic umbrella. I try to look at everything through a progressive lens. To learn more about my ideals, you can read my About page or my Manifesto.

I also look at a candidate’s history and relationships. Have they shown up for progressive causes before they decided to run for office? Do their past actions align with the values they’re claiming on the campaign trail? I pay attention to who supports them early, which legislators and organizations they choose to align with, and whether those alliances reflect the broader progressive movement.

Endorsements, for me, are about more than liking a platform. They’re about trust, consistency, and whether a candidate has demonstrated that they’ll fight for regular Texans when it actually counts. That’s why I try to put a lot of thought and effort into these endorsements, and ultimately, that’s why:

Lone Star Left endorses Gigs Hodges for Texas House District 49.

HD49 is a deep-blue, highly educated, renter-heavy part of Austin where the Democratic primary is the real election. The question here has always been, what kind of Democrat best represents one of the most progressive communities in Texas?

This race had no shortage of qualified candidates. I still believe that. But as the race has unfolded, one campaign has stood out for clarity, consistency, and courage.

The case for Gigs Hodges.

What sets Gigs Hodges apart in this race is that she is explicit about what she believes and why. In a political culture where so many candidates try to sound progressive without ever defining the word, Hodges does the opposite. She names systems directly. She talks about capitalism, corporate capture, and who actually benefits from the way Texas politics works. There’s no consultant-approved fog around her platform.

That clarity matters. Hodges talks about housing as a human right. She frames healthcare as a basic necessity people shouldn’t have to beg for. Education, transit, wages, climate policy, she treats them as public goods that should serve people, not profit margins. And it makes a lot of sense.

Hodges came up through community college, worked her way into UT, and graduated with honors after being told the odds weren’t in her favor. She’s been a student teacher, has seen firsthand how policy decisions made at the Capitol land in real classrooms, and understands what underfunding and bureaucracy look like on the ground.

Through the Archer Fellowship, she got a close-up view of how power operates in Washington, then came back to Texas and saw the same dynamics replicated in the Legislature.

Hodges is running as someone who has seen the system from the inside and decided it needs to change.

Hodges’ alignment with the district.

Hodges is a natural fit for the actual voters who live in HD49.

This is a district full of renters watching their leases jump hundreds of dollars at a time. It’s packed with students carrying debt, young professionals priced out of homeownership, service workers trying to survive in one of Texas’ most expensive cities, and families who love Austin but aren’t sure how much longer they can afford to stay.

HD49 voters rely on public transit. They care about climate change. They want strong public schools, affordable healthcare, and an economy that works for people without lobbyists. They are progressive in a practical, everyday way.

Hodges’ platform speaks directly to those realities. Housing as a right. Transit as a necessity. Wages that keep up with rent. Real action on climate and public education.

The more you look at what HD49 is and who lives there, the clearer it becomes that Hodges isn’t trying to mold herself to fit the district. She already fits it.

It’s also worth noting something that shouldn’t be controversial in a district like this. Hodges is running openly as a Democratic Socialist. She isn’t the only Texas House candidate doing so, and she won’t be the last. After Zohran Mamdani’s recent win and the steady growth of DSA-aligned Democrats across Texas, it’s clear that Democratic Socialists are becoming a more visible, organized left wing of the Democratic Party.

In a place like HD49, that should be treated as part of the natural spectrum of Democratic politics. This district already votes for candidates who support unions, public transit, affordable housing, climate action, and expanding healthcare. Hodges is simply honest about the framework she uses to get there. If Texas Democrats want a party that actually meets the urgency of this moment, we should be getting comfortable with candidates like her.

Another major reason I’m endorsing Hodges is that she is running an unapologetically people-over-profits campaign. It shows up in how she talks about policy and in how she’s building her campaign. She isn’t courting corporate PACs or structuring her platform to stay on the good side of lobbyists. She’s focused on small-dollar donors, community support, and voter organizing rather than impressing insiders.

Hodges has made it clear which side she’s on. She talks openly about corporate capture of politics. She calls out the influence of big donors instead of pretending it doesn’t exist. And she’s building a campaign that answers to voters, not boardrooms. For me, that independence is a crucial part of what makes an endorsement feel real instead of symbolic.

Can she win?

Any time you endorse a candidate this openly progressive, someone will ask the same question… okay, but can she actually win?

In this case, the answer is yes.

First, this is Austin, not Midland. HD49 is one of the most progressive districts in Texas. Voters here are not scared off by words like “Democratic Socialism.” Many of them already agree with the policies behind it, even if they don’t always use that label.

Second, this district rewards boldness. HD49 Democrats aren’t looking for the safest possible option. They want someone who will push the conversation forward, not politely manage the status quo.

Third, this race is almost certainly headed to a runoff, and runoffs are won by enthusiasm and organization. Energized bases matter more than vague name recognition. Hodges is building exactly the kind of grassroots campaign that performs well when turnout is driven by committed progressive voters.

I make endorsements based on fit, values, and realistic paths to victory. In this district, in this political moment, Gigs Hodges has all three.

HD49 has a chance to send a message about what kind of politics Texas Democrats want to build. We can choose cautious and consultant-driven, or we can choose bold and people-first. We can pick a candidate who talks around problems, or one who names them directly and isn’t afraid of big solutions.

I believe this district deserves a representative who understands that incremental change isn’t enough when rent is too high, healthcare is out of reach, and too many families feel like Austin is slipping away from them. Someone willing to stand up to corporate influence instead of making peace with it.

That’s why Lone Star Left proudly endorses Gigs Hodges for Texas House District 49.

You can learn more about Gigs Hodges on her website and Instagram.

If you’re in the HD49 area and able, consider volunteering.

And if you can spare it, consider donating.

• February 17, 2026: First Day to Early Vote

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