A closer look
During the primary election, voters choose their party’s nominee in contested Democratic or Republican races. Members of the Texas House, known as state representatives, are elected to two-year terms. District 52 oversees party of Williamson County, including Round Rock, Cedar Park, Leander, Liberty Hill, Georgetown and Hutto.
Candidates running for the seat were asked to complete a questionnaire from Community Impact.
Candidates were asked to email responses to the following questions, keep responses within 50 words and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity. For more information about your local ballot, visit www.communityimpact.com/voter-guide.
Blayre Pena
Occupation & Experience:
Attorney and small business owner; trial attorney, small business owner, community volunteer, wife, mother
Candidate Website:
https://www.blayrepena.com
Why are you running for office?
I am running to bring experienced, steady leadership to Austin. After 20 years practicing law, owning a small business, and raising a family here, I understand how state decisions affect families, employers, and communities. I want practical solutions rooted in conservative principles.
What would your top priorities be if elected?
My top priorities are strengthening public safety, protecting taxpayers, improving infrastructure, supporting responsible economic growth, and ensuring state government remains efficient and accountable. Every decision should be measured by whether it helps families, small businesses, and our community thrive.
What are the biggest challenges facing this district?
Rapid growth, rising property taxes, infrastructure strain, school funding pressures, and flood risk are major challenges. Families need relief from rising costs while ensuring our roads, schools, and utilities keep pace with growth without sacrificing local control or fiscal responsibility.
How do you plan to address these issues?
I will focus on fiscally responsible budgeting, infrastructure planning tied to growth, property tax relief, and collaboration with local governments. My legal background allows me to evaluate policy impacts carefully and advocate for solutions that are sustainable, practical, and respectful of taxpayers.
If elected, what will your priorities be for the future of Texas education?
My priorities include parental involvement, local control, safe schools, and strong accountability. We must support teachers, prepare students for careers and higher education, and ensure funding follows students—while respecting families’ values and keeping education decisions close to home.
If elected, what will your priorities be regarding property taxes and housing affordability?
I will prioritize property tax relief, transparency in appraisal processes, and policies that encourage responsible housing development. Families should not be taxed out of their homes, and housing supply must grow thoughtfully to keep costs manageable while protecting neighborhoods.
How will you ensure your district is prepared for extreme weather and flooding?
Preparation requires smart infrastructure investment, drainage improvements, and coordination with state and local agencies. I will support proactive planning, responsible funding, and long-term mitigation strategies that reduce risk while respecting property rights and local priorities.
How will you ensure your constituents are able to receive the appropriate aid after natural disasters?
I will work to streamline disaster response, improve communication, and ensure state resources reach affected communities quickly. Clear rules, accountability, and coordination with local officials are essential so families and businesses receive timely assistance when they need it most.
What projects are most important for the Legislature to focus on for the future of Texas?
Water infrastructure, transportation, flood mitigation, grid reliability, and public safety are critical. Texas must plan responsibly for growth while maintaining fiscal discipline and ensuring infrastructure investments deliver real value to taxpayers.
If elected, what do you plan to do to ensure Texans have enough water as the state continues to grow?
I will support long-term water planning, conservation, infrastructure investment, and regional cooperation. Reliable water supplies are essential for families, agriculture, and economic growth, and solutions must balance development needs with responsible stewardship.
How do you plan to involve residents in the decision-making process?
I will prioritize accessibility, transparency, and regular communication through town halls, community meetings, and constituent outreach. Listening to residents and local leaders ensures policies reflect real-world needs and strengthens trust between citizens and their representatives.
What do you see as the greatest challenge for Texas in the next five years?
Managing rapid growth, including securing reliable water sources and preserving affordability.
Caroline Harris Davila
Occupation & Experience:
Incumbent state representative; two-term state representative, former legislative policy advisor (8 years); Master of Public ...
Candidate Website:
https://www.carolinefortexas.com
Why are you running for office?
I love Williamson County. I grew up here and I want to ensure that future generations enjoy the same opportunities I did. I'm a champion for preserving our quality of life, while fostering positive growth with good-paying jobs, ensuring public safety, cutting taxes, and providing great education for our kids.
What would your top priorities be if elected?
I have successfully fought to cut taxes, secure the border, protect kids, create jobs, cut red tape, ban chemicals in school lunches, protect girls’ sports and privacy, ban China from owning Texas land, restore prayer and the 10 Commandments in schools, provide parental empowerment in education, and will continue to.
What are the biggest challenges facing this district?
Rapid growth threatens affordability, infrastructure, and quality of life. We must expand transportation, water, and energy resources responsibly while preserving our community character. I’ve successfully secured state support for our cities to address these issues and remain committed to finding additional solutions to help our community thrive.
How do you plan to address these issues?
I helped secure billions for roads, water, energy, education, and border security. I will continue pushing fiscally responsible solutions that support growth, cut taxes, protect property owners, and ensure our community remains a great place to live, work, and raise a family.
If elected, what will your priorities be for the future of Texas education?
I helped secure the largest increase in public school funding in our state’s history, $8.5 billion. Half of that going to teacher pay raises and the rest going toward special education, school safety, and the basic allotment. I will always fight for our kids to get the best education.
If elected, what will your priorities be regarding property taxes and housing affordability?
I’ve delivered $69 billion in property tax relief thus far by raising the homestead exemption and compressing school taxes. I will keep fighting to lower property taxes, reduce regulations that drive up housing costs, and protect homeowners from being taxed out of their homes.
How will you ensure your district is prepared for extreme weather and flooding?
I secured funding for flood warning systems and disaster mitigation projects for our community and will continue prioritizing infrastructure investments that strengthen resilience, improve emergency response, and safeguard our community from future extreme weather events.
How will you ensure your constituents receive appropriate aid after natural disasters?
I’ll build on legislation I’ve already passed and the work I’ve personally done to help neighbors in times of crisis. I’ll continue working closely with state agencies, the Governor, Lt. Governor, Speaker of the House, and all local, state, and federal partners to ensure constituents receive everything needed to recover.
What projects are most important for the Legislature to focus on for Texas’s future?
Lowering property taxes, enhanced border security, public safety, water, energy, transportation infrastructure, and education, including trade school programs for high school students. I’m proud of the work I’ve done in the legislature on all of these issues and look forward to accomplishing more both for Texas and Williamson County.
If elected, how will you ensure Texans have enough water as the state grows?
During my two terms, I passed legislation to add more aquifer storage and recovery projects in Williamson County and I also voted to establish the Texas Water Fund, with an initial $3.5 billion investment and $20 billion over the next 20 years for cities to improve their water infrastructure and build new projects.
How do you plan to involve residents in the decision-making process?
By listening. I have an open-door policy for constituents. I have also knocked on thousands of doors in my district, and continue to, so that I get as much input as possible from those I serve. I also host town halls, community events, and meetings at my office.
What do you see as the greatest challenge for Texas in the next five years?
Texas has the 8th largest economy in the world and it keeps growing! Texas must remain the best place to live, work, and raise a family. That means protecting our conservative Texas values while creating jobs, lowering taxes, investing in our future, and prioritizing public safety and border security.
