State Rep. Senfronia Thompson, the longest‑serving woman and longest‑serving Black legislator in any state legislature, announced Friday that she has secured enough support to claim the Texas House speaker’s gavel when the Legislature reconvenes in January.
Broad coalition and Republican backing
Thompson’s confidence follows the withdrawal of Rep. Eddie Morales Jr., a centrist Democrat from Eagle Pass, who endorsed her and cleared the field. While she did not publish a full list of supporters, she affirmed she has the 76 votes required in the 150‑member chamber.
At a Capitol news conference, Thompson was flanked by a modest group of Republican lawmakers, including State Reps. Drew Darby of San Angelo, Charlie Geren of Fort Worth, and Todd Hunter of Corpus Christi – all veteran members who chair committees and represent the moderate wing of the GOP.
Historic firsts and bipartisan intent
If elected, the 87‑year‑old Houston Democrat would become the first woman and the first Black lawmaker to serve as Texas House speaker. Her ascent would also create a historic “Big Three” of women in Texas state government alongside Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa and Lt. Gov.-elect Vikki Goodwin.
Thompson pledged to avoid a “dictatorship” in the chamber, promising to appoint members of both parties to chair committees and to restore the tradition of bipartisan panel leadership that was discontinued under the previous Republican speaker, Dustin Burrows.
Policy focus and legislative tone
She emphasized a return to policy‑driven governance, saying, “I’m not here to punish anybody. I did that when I was a parent. I expect members to represent their districts, work hard, and deliver on promises.” Thompson warned against “bickering and fighting about little wee‑wee things” and called for cooperation between Republican and Democratic expertise.
Thompson’s bid comes on the heels of a sweeping Democratic victory in Tuesday’s midterm elections, where Democrats captured every statewide office and secured a majority in the Texas House for the first time since 2003. The shift effectively ends Speaker Burrows’ tenure, whose first term saw the passage of a new school voucher system, tighter restrictions on LGBTQ+ rights, and a mid‑decade congressional redistricting plan.
Support from longtime colleagues
Colleagues highlighted Thompson’s decades of experience and her reputation for decorum. State Rep. Yvonne Davis (D‑Dallas) said, “Her leadership provides Texas an opportunity to focus on policy versus politics, governing for all rather than a partisan agenda.”
Thompson launched her speaker campaign around midnight on election night, releasing a list of ten Democratic House members, including four from Houston, as an early glimpse of her prospective leadership team.
Looking ahead
Should her coalition remain intact through the January session, Thompson would become the first Democrat to hold the speakership since Pete Laney’s tenure ended in 2003. Her election would signal a new era of bipartisan cooperation in a chamber that has grown increasingly divided in recent years.
Original reporting: Texas Tribune (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
