Bio
Meet Pooja
Pooja Sethi is the Chief of Staff to Texas State Representative Vikki Goodwin and the Chair of the Travis County Democratic Party. With nearly four years of experience working directly in the Texas Legislature, she has been deeply involved in legislative strategy, policy development, and constituent advocacy. Pooja brings a rare combination of legal expertise, political leadership, and lived experience to every issue she takes on.
Before stepping into her role at the Capitol, Pooja worked as an immigration attorney with Catholic Charities, where she represented families navigating the immigration system and fought for dignity and due process. That work shaped her commitment to civil rights, human dignity, and access to justice.
In the Legislature, she has helped pass legislation aimed at preventing child drownings, protecting survivors of domestic violence, and expanding access to affordable housing. Her top priorities are strengthening our democracy, fully funding public education, and enacting common sense gun reform.
Impact Where It Counts
As Chair of the Travis County Democratic Party, Pooja leads one of the most active Democratic county parties in the state. Under her leadership, the party has expanded voter outreach, built year-round organizing infrastructure, and supported local candidates from school board to Congress. She has helped guide the party through high-stakes elections, legislative fights, and some of the most effective organizing efforts in Texas.
Pooja is also deeply connected to her community. She attends every monthly constituent coffee in House District 47 and is widely known for being accessible, informed, and engaged. She has fought locally for issues like water infrastructure, traffic safety, and protecting local control—because she understands how state policies directly impact the lives of people in her district.
She lives in House District 47 with her husband and son, and she brings her perspective as a mom, attorney, and public servant to everything she does. Her leadership is rooted in showing up, listening, and fighting for the values and future that Texans deserve.
Community & Beyond
Pooja’s work does not stop in the Capitol building. She’s also threading the needle of community and culture as the past President of the Indian American Coalition of Central Texas, a board member at the Austin Artists Project, and serving on boards and commissions at organizations like Planned Parenthood Texas, Emerge Texas, the City of Austin’s Asian American Quality of Life Commission, and the ACC Regional Board. Whether she’s rallying voter registration at Diwali festivities, fighting for reproductive rights, or shining a spotlight on artists, she’s all about making an impact where it counts.
With nods like the 2019 YWCA Great Austin Woman of Color Leading Change Award, 2019’s Activist of the Year by the Travis County Democratic Party, and recipient of the Syracuse University College of Law Frank Morris Human Rights Award for her work in detention centers, it's clear she’s making waves. In short, Pooja Sethi is an inspiring, tenacious, and downright awesome force in our Texan community.