State Rep. Senfronia Thompson, the longest-serving woman and Black legislator in Texas history, said she has the votes to become Texas House speaker when the legislature convenes in January.
What you need to know
Thompson, a Houston Democrat, was flanked by dozens of Democratic lawmakers and legislators-elect during a Nov. 6 news conference at the Texas Capitol. At least three Republicans—Reps. Drew Darby, R-San Angelo; Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth; and Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi—also joined the event.
"The bottom line is, the majority of the House has pledged to [support] me," Thompson said. "I know that with the colleagues that are being sent to the legislature, both Democrats and Republicans working together, we can make a difference in the state of Texas and the lives of the people that we represent."
House lawmakers will elect their next speaker on Jan. 12, the first day of the 90th legislative session. Thompson needs a simple majority, or 76 of the chamber's 150 votes, to win the speaker's gavel. Election results from the Associated Press show that Democrats are projected to win 79 Texas House seats, with 63 Republican-held seats and eight races too close to call as of Nov. 6.
About two hours after her news conference ended, Thompson released a list of 90 House members who she said pledged to support her speaker candidacy.
The 87-year-old was first elected to the legislature in 1972 and took office the following year. She would become the first woman and the first Black lawmaker to serve as Texas House speaker.
If Thompson becomes speaker, Texas' top officials, known as the "Big Three," would all be women for the first time in state history. Gina Hinojosa of Austin was elected governor Nov. 3 and Vikki Goodwin of Houston was elected lieutenant governor.
Thompson's candidacy comes after Democrats swept Texas' statewide seats in the Nov. 3 election, ending 24 years of Republican dominance. Rep. Eddie Morales, D-Eagle Pass, threw his hat in the ring for speaker on Nov. 5 before endorsing Thompson less than a day later.
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In the Texas House, the speaker appoints members to committees and dictates the movement of legislation. Thompson would succeed Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, who has spent one term leading the lower chamber.
Under Burrows' leadership, House Republicans voted to prevent members of the minority party from chairing committees. Thompson indicated she would appoint members from both parties as committee leaders, telling reporters that "we've got to have expertise on both sides."
"We are going to be working to resolve the issues, to solve the problems, to take care of the people's business, and not to be bickering and fighting about little wee-wee things, [which] have no place within our legislative processes," Thompson said. "This is the people's house, and they have been kind enough to send us here as a majority to work with the minority."
Darby, a rural Republican and one of Thompson's supporters, lauded her goal of working with members of both political parties to pass legislation.
"I'm encouraged by her words about bipartisanship," Darby told reporters Nov. 6. "There are great needs in this state right now, and we need to work together to make sure we meet the needs of our state."
The last Democrat to serve as Texas House speaker was Pete Laney, who held the gavel from 1993-2001, per legislative records.
