NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Austin, TX, March 10, 2026: After securing a decisive victory in the Democratic primary earlier this month, Indian American attorney and political organizer Pooja Sethi is now preparing for a November contest in the race for the Texas House District 47, a seat representing parts of Austin and western Travis County.
Sethi won the March 3 Democratic primary by a wide margin, defeating former Army officer and entrepreneur Joseph Kopser. With the primary behind her, she will face Republican nominee Jennifer Mushtaler in the general election on November 3.
An attorney and longtime Democratic organizer in Central Texas, Sethi previously served as chief of staff to State Representative Vikki Goodwin, the current holder of the District 47 seat. The race for the district opened after Goodwin decided to run for lieutenant governor rather than seek re-election to the Texas House.
Sethi has also served as chair of the Travis County Democratic Party and has been active in civic organizations in Austin. Her community involvement has included leadership roles with the Indian American Coalition of Central Texas and service on the City of Austin’s Asian American Quality of Life Commission. She has also served on the board of Planned Parenthood Texas.
Born to Indian immigrant parents, Sethi has been active in community advocacy and Democratic Party organizing for several years. She holds a bachelor’s degree from George Washington University and a law degree from Syracuse University.
Texas House District 47 includes neighborhoods in Austin and western Travis County and has generally leaned Democratic in recent elections. Still, the November race is expected to draw attention as Republicans seek to expand their presence in the Texas Legislature.
If elected, Sethi would join a small but growing number of Indian Americans serving in state legislatures across the United States, reflecting the increasing political engagement of the South Asian diaspora in American public life.
Cover photo credit: https://www.poojafortexas.com
