Why Ana-Maria Ramos Is Running For Texas Speaker

This week Democratic State Rep. Ana-Maria Ramos announced she was running for Texas Speaker of the House, joining a crowded field that already includes several Republicans looking to challenge embattled current Speaker Dade Phelan.

An attorney, Ramos entered the legislature after flipping a north Texas district in 2018. In an interview with Texas Signal, Ramos acknowledged the odds were narrow for her, but she felt compelled to throw her hat into the race because of what she has witnessed so far in Texas, and what she feels could come in the next legislative session. “We’re ground zero for Project 2025 and we can’t sit on the sidelines and let the Republicans decide our destiny.”

Ramos also sees some opportunity with the November election. “I’ve talked to Texans across the state, and [I tell them] you get to vote for the people who vote for Speaker.” She pointed to two races in north Texas, HD-108 and HD-112, as potential districts that could flip. And while Ramos says she feels an excitement throughout the state from Democrats, she is careful to note it’s a “cautious excitement.”

As she continues to help other Democrats campaign through the state, Ramos says she is focusing on raising several issues including reproductive rights, gun safety, and vouchers. Currently, both Governor Abbott and Lt. Governor Patrick have said that passing a school choice bill in the next legislative session is high on their agendas. Earlier this year, Abbott and his allies launched primary attacks on Republicans who resisted passing legislation that would take away funds from public schools, which are often the biggest employers in rural Texas.

“We need somebody who is going to actually give Texans a fair shot and a voice,” says Ramos. She then mentioned a series of experiences that she has witnessed, from having her mic cut off debating a bill to seeing visitors in a gallery removed as troubling things she would not allow if she were Speaker. “I just believe we need to give the government back to the people, and this is why I’m running.”