(The Center Square) – Six former speakers of the Texas House of Representatives are serving on the transition team of incoming presumptive Speaker of the House Senfronia Thompson, a Democrat from Houston.
Not soon after Election Day after voters ousted all Republicans from statewide office and flipped the Texas House, Thompson announced she had the votes to be the next speaker.
If elected, she will be the first woman and first Black state lawmaker to lead the chamber.
She is among four women who were elected to lead Texas in January. Four Democratic women will be sworn into office Jan. 19 as Texas’ next governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the House and state comptroller, The Center Square reported.
Referred to as Dean Thompson, Thompson has served in the Texas House since 1973. She is the longest-serving woman and longest-serving Black lawmaker in Texas legislative history, The Center Square reported.
She announced her transition team on Tuesday: six former Texas House speakers.
They include three Democrats: Ben Barnes (1965-1969), Gib Lewis (1983-1993) and Pete Laney (1993-2003).
They also include three Republicans: Joe Straus (2009-2019), Dennis Bonnen (2019-2021) and Dade Phelan (2021-2025).
“These former speakers know the house does its best work when members treat each other with respect, put their districts first and take care of the people’s business,” Thompson said. “I am grateful that they are willing to help the House get off to a good start. Not many people have held the speaker’s gavel and I’m eager to hear ideas and advice from some who have.”
Barnes said the state “is facing serious challenges, and this session will ask a great deal of the House. Thompson is the leader this moment calls for. Over more than five decades, she has seen every kind of session, worked with members from every corner of the state, on both sides of the aisle, and learned what it takes to turn good ideas into law. This kind of knowledge can’t be taught or rushed. It’s earned over a lifetime of services and it’s exactly what Texas needs right now.”
Laney said he was elected to the House the same year as Thompson, in 1973, when the majority of the legislature were white men. “It wasn’t easy for her to fit in. But I watched her through the years working hard, building relationships and earning respect. She’s been there when the House functioned well and when it didn’t.”
He also said she respects the process and people with different political backgrounds and views. “She has the energy and enthusiasm of a freshman member and the wisdom of the most senior member.”
Phelan, who voted with Thompson to impeach Attorney General Ken Paxton, said few understand the traditions of the Texas House better than Thompson.
“The Texas House works best when its members put people before party: when we come together, work together, and govern in a bipartisan way for the good of all Texans,” he said.
Under Straus, the speaker was elected by a bipartisan coalition, including House Democrats. This continued with Democrats electing Bonnen, Phelan and outgoing House Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock.
Under Phelan, Democrats were assigned committee cochair positions, a tradition Burrows kept. Thompson says she will continue the tradition and appoint Republicans as cochairs of committees.
There are 150 members of the Texas House. A vote of 76 is needed for speaker.
On Election Day, voters ousted at least 20 Republicans, flipping control of the Texas House, handing Democrats a majority that surpassed 76. Several races are still too close to call.
Thompson doesn’t need Republican votes to become speaker, but several House Republicans pledged support and said they will vote for her in January ahead of the 90th legislative session.
