Darlene Breaux, president of the Alief ISD school board, knocked off long-time state Rep. Hubert Vo in the Democratic runoff for Texas House District 149 on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, ending his more than two decades in the Legislature. Breaux pulled roughly 61 percent of the vote to Vo's 39 percent, with about 1,618 votes to his 1,049 in a low turnout contest across parts of Alief and Katy. The result capped a months long fight that started with a razor thin March primary separated by only a handful of ballots and forced the May runoff.
Final Returns And The District
Official returns show Breaux with 1,618 votes to Vo's 1,049, according to election tallies reported by ABC13 Houston. House District 149 covers a swath of southwest Houston that includes Alief and parts of Katy and has leaned Democratic in recent general elections, per a voter guide from the Houston Chronicle.
From Razor Thin Primary To Runoff
Neither Breaux nor Vo cleared 50 percent in the March 3 primary, with both finishing around 38 percent, so the race advanced to a May 26 runoff, according to official primary tallies compiled at Texas Election Results. In that first round, Vo led Breaux by only three votes out of roughly 9,992 ballots cast, pushing the contest into a one on one runoff, as reported by The Texas Tribune. Runoffs often magnify the effects of turnout and organization, a dynamic local outlets highlighted in the weeks before Tuesday's vote, per reporting from the Texas Observer.
Breaux's Platform And Backing
Breaux, a former teacher first elected to the Alief ISD board in 2017, ran on raising teacher pay, investing in small businesses and workforce training, and improving local infrastructure, according to local coverage. She picked up endorsements from the Houston Chronicle editorial board and area labor groups including the Texas Gulf Coast AFL CIO, support that helped her build momentum in precincts around Alief and across the district's diverse neighborhoods.
An End To A Long Run
Vo has represented the area since winning a close race in 2004 and had served in the Texas House for more than two decades, but challengers argued he had grown less visible in recent sessions. Reporting on the race noted Vo's long tenure, his 2004 margin of victory and a mixed record that left some voters ready for a new representative, as detailed by The Texas Tribune.
What Comes Next
Breaux will be the Democratic nominee in November and will face Republican Dave Bennett for the seat, according to local runoff coverage from Community Impact. The November matchup makes HD 149 a race to watch as both parties prepare for a midterm cycle where turnout and outside spending may decide a closely contested district.
In remarks to supporters after the result, Breaux thanked voters for declaring they wanted "something different," according to Houston Public Media. With the nomination settled, the campaigns now pivot to the fall fight over turnout, campaign cash and which message will land in a changing Houston electorate.
