Texas' first female lieutenant governor, Austin state Rep. Vikki Goodwin, held her first news conference since the election on Nov. 10 in Austin.
"As the first woman dean of the Texas Senate, I'm delighted to welcome you to the first press conference held by the first lieutenant governor who's a woman," said Sen. Judith Zaffirini, a Laredo Democrat and the chamber's longest-serving member. "It's been a long time coming."
What you need to know
Lt. Gov.-elect Goodwin, a Democrat, will preside over the Republican-majority Texas Senate. She will work alongside Democratic Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa and the Texas House speaker, who will likely be longtime state Rep. Senfronia Thompson after the Houston Democrat announced Nov. 6 that she had the votes to lead the chamber.
Democrats won control of the state House during the Nov. 3 election, but Republicans retained 19 of the state Senate's 31 seats. Goodwin vowed to collaborate with all senators and ensure they can represent their constituents' interests during next year's legislative session.
"My focus right now is sitting down with each senator, many of whom I worked with while in the House, to talk about their individual priorities and how we can work together so they can represent their districts," Goodwin told reporters Nov. 10. "We're focused on ensuring the Senate will operate effectively, and my office stands ready to work with all senators to accomplish the business of the state."
How much power Goodwin will have over the chamber is largely up to senators, who will approve new Senate rules when the legislature convenes Jan. 12. Goodwin is expected to be sworn in on Jan. 19.
The Senate's current rules give Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, whom Goodwin unseated, the power to form and appoint committees, dictate the route of legislation and recognize senators to speak during floor sessions. Senators could choose to revoke those powers and give themselves more authority to make decisions, experts have said.
Asked by conservative radio host Mark Davis if Republican senators will change the chamber's rules to reduce Goodwin's powers, Patrick said, "I think the Senate should do that."
"I hadn't shared this with a lot of people, but had I won, which I thought I was going to, I was going to begin to change those rules," Patrick said during a Nov. 9 radio interview with Davis. "The lieutenant governor derives their power from the Senate: 16 out of 31 senators, a simple majority, can change the rules."
Patrick noted that while Goodwin won the election for lieutenant governor, "she doesn't have the majority of votes on the floor."
"I support the Republicans standing up for their voters. ... I'm supportive of what they will do to protect the conservative majority," he told Davis. "This is gonna be a tough session."
More details
Goodwin also announced her political transition team, who will help prepare her to take over as lieutenant governor and work with state senators.
Angela Hale, a registered lobbyist and political relations specialist, will serve as executive director of the transition team, while outgoing state Rep. Chris Turner, D-Grand Prairie, is its chair. The 14-person team also includes:
Former Republican state Sens. Kel Seliger and Tommy Williams
Former Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Tom Phillips
Other political staffers, operatives and lobbyists
"Starting on Jan. 19, 181 members of the legislature, the lieutenant governor and the governor [will] all have issues of importance to them and agendas, and if they're going to be successful in any measure, they have to cooperate," Seliger said Nov. 10. "Hopefully that cooperation begins with this transition right now."
Zaffirini predicted that Goodwin would be "the best lieutenant governor we have ever had."
"I say that with confidence because I'm equally confident that the senators will do our best to unite behind her in doing what's best for the people of Texas," she told reporters.
Also of note
Texas Comptroller-elect Sarah Eckhardt, a Democratic state senator from Austin, also announced her political transition team Nov. 10. Eckhardt's chief of staff in the Texas Senate, Peter Einhorn, will lead the transition team, which also includes:
Former state comptroller and Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp
Former Deputy Comptroller Lisa Craven, who left the office in July after Republican Don Huffines was appointed comptroller
State Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas
State Sen. Juan Hinojosa, D-McAllen
Other former elected officials, civic leaders and policy experts
