Rep. Matt Morgan and Democrat Eliz Markowitz are competing for the Texas House District 26 seat covering Katy and Fulshear. Both candidates have staked out positions on schools, infrastructure and energy ahead of the Nov. 3 election.

Community Impact Newspaper published a voter guide Sept. 29 featuring the two candidates. In a separate Q&A published Sept. 18, the Katy Times asked both Morgan and Markowitz about education funding, FM 1463 delays, data centers and battery storage near Katy neighborhoods.

Education funding

Morgan, a first-term Republican and insurance executive, pointed in the Sept. 18 Katy Times Q&A to his vote for House Bill 2 (HB 2). He said the final bill provided $8.5 billion for public education, including $4 billion for teacher and staff pay raises and nearly $300 million to raise the per-student allotment. Next session, he said he would support funding tied to a basic allotment increase and more local control for districts.

Markowitz, a Fort Bend County native and adjunct professor at the University of Houston, said in the same Q&A that she would increase the basic allotment, tie funding to inflation and fully fund special education. She paraphrased the choice simply: "Texas has the resources to properly fund public education … the issue is whether our representatives in the Legislature choose to make it a priority."

FM 1463 delays

The long-delayed FM 1463 widening drew sharp responses from both candidates. Morgan said in the Sept. 18 Q&A that the road is scheduled for completion in April 2027 and that he plans to file legislation imposing stricter communication and deadline requirements on the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and its contractors. Markowitz said she would demand clear timelines and regular public progress reports from TxDOT.

Data centers and battery storage

Both candidates said large energy users should cover their own infrastructure costs. Morgan said in the Sept. 18 Q&A that the proposed Ochoa battery energy storage system (BESS) near Katy raises concerns when sited near schools and neighborhoods, and he called for reasonable setbacks and fire-safety standards. Markowitz said she would support stronger water-use, noise and environmental standards and give communities a voice in siting decisions.

Growth and constituent access

In the Community Impact Q&A, Markowitz listed rapid growth as the state's greatest challenge, saying it strains schools, healthcare, infrastructure and housing. She said she plans to hold regular town halls and open office hours.

Morgan's responses to the Community Impact questions were not available for this article. His positions above are drawn from the Sept. 18 Katy Times Q&A.

The voter registration deadline for the Nov. 3 election is Monday, Oct. 5. Early voting runs Oct. 19–30. Fort Bend County voters can find polling locations on the county elections website.