Whirlwind Week For Texas Politics

It has been a week since the blockbuster midterm election that upended Texas politics. And in that time, the Texas political landscape has already shifted – even if the newly elected Democrats don’t take office for several more weeks.

A Historic New Speaker

On Friday November 6, Rep. Senfronia Thompson appeared alongside dozens of her colleagues to announce she already had the votes to become the next Speaker of the Texas House. That would make Thompson the first woman and the first Black Speaker in the state’s history. Thompson was first elected to her state house seat (which covers north Houston) in 1972.

Before serving in the legislature, Thompson (who often goes by the nickname “Ms. T”) was an attorney in Houston. She earned her JD from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law and she also holds a Master of Law degree from the University of Houston.

As a legislator, Thompson has advocated for several measures for justice and equality in Texas. She is the author of the James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Act, which became law in Texas in 2001 and increases penalties for crimes motivated by prejudice or bias. It was named after James Byrd, Jr., who was killed after three white supremacists dragged him behind a vehicle in Jasper, Texas in 1998.

Thompson first announced she would run for Speaker as it became clear Texas Democrats would take back the House on Election Night. State Rep. Eddie Morales briefly tossed his hat in the Speaker ring but quickly withdrew as Thompson’s coalition became clearer. Many of her fellow Texas Democrats praised Thompson as their future Speaker ahead of an official vote on January 12.

“Throughout my time in the legislature, Dean Senfronia Thompson has been a steadfast leader who delivers for the people of Texas,” said Rep. Ann Johnson in a social media post. “Texans are lucky to have a champion for justice. And I couldn’t be prouder to cast a vote for my friend as the next Speaker of the Texas House.”

On Tuesday, November 10, Thompson also announced the members of her transition team. They include six former speakers: Ben Barnes, Gib Lewis, Pete Laney, Joe Straus, Dennis Bonnen, and Dade Phelan.

Filing Begins

Although the legislative session doesn’t begin until January 12, bill filing for next year started on Monday, November 9. The first bills filed in both the House and Senate (by State Rep. John Bucy and State Sen. Judith Zaffirini respectively) would expand Medicaid in Texas. The lone star state is just one of a handful of states that has steadfastly refused to expand Medicaid. Texas leads the nation in the number of uninsured, with over one million children lacking health insurance.

Other bills that were filed including repealing the state’s new voucher program, increasing the minimum wage, and ending tax breaks for data centers. Rep. Donna Howard also filed HB 126, which would repeal “medically unnecessary” health care restrictions in the state. That bill would potentially roll back not only restrictions on abortion, but gender-affirming care. With Republicans still controlling the senate, many of these bills face a steep hurdle.

Transitions and Moves

On Tuesday, November 10, Lieutenant Governor-Elect Vikki Goodwin held her first press conference since Election Day. She was surrounded by members of her transition team, with include two former Republican state senators and will be chaired by Rep. Chris Turner. Goodwin said that she had been spending the last few days meeting with senators to hear their priorities, and a set agenda for the next Senate would likely come closer to January. While outgoing Lt. Governor Dan Patrick announced he would like to see Republicans limit the powers of Goodwin, it’s unclear if that will actually happen.

Elsewhere in Texas, several lawmakers are making new moves. With Sarah Eckhardt and Nathan Johnson elected to statewide offices, there will be two special elections for state senate seats. In Johnson’s former district SD-16, former State Rep. John Turner announced he would be running for the seat (with Johnson’s support). Many others are expected to announce for that seat, and Eckhardt’s former SD-14 in the coming weeks.