All articles tagged with #senfronia thompson
Senfronia Thompson, 87, has secured the votes to become the first woman and first Black speaker of the Texas House. This historic shift creates an all-female 'Big Three' leadership trio with Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa and Lieutenant Governor-elect Vikki Goodwin, marking the first time women hold the top three state offices simultaneously.
The 90th Texas Legislature began its unofficial session on November 9, 2026, with Democrats filing over 340 bills in the first two hours. Key proposals include expanding Medicaid, which could cover one million more residents and cost up to $10 billion annually, and ending tax breaks for data centers. While Democrats control the House and governorship, Republicans retain the Senate, creating a divided government. Speaker-elect Senfronia Thompson and Lieutenant Governor-elect Vikki Goodwin are set to take office, with Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa signaling a willingness to seek bipartisan compromise on economic and educational issues.
Texas is set to have its first all-female 'Big Three' leadership trio, comprising the governor, lieutenant governor, and House speaker. Gina Hinojosa became the state’s first Latina governor, and Vikki Goodwin became the first female lieutenant governor. Senfronia Thompson, the 87-year-old Houston Democrat, confirmed she has the votes to become the first female and Black House speaker. This marks the first time women will hold the top three legislative and executive positions in Texas simultaneously.
State Rep. Senfronia Thompson announced on November 6 that she has secured the necessary votes to become the Texas House speaker, a role she would hold as the first woman and first Black legislator in that position. Her candidacy gained decisive momentum after her sole rival, Rep. Eddie Morales Jr., dropped his bid and endorsed her. Thompson, 87, is the longest-serving woman and Black legislator in any U.S. state, having served since 1972. She pledged to restore bipartisan committee leadership, a practice abandoned under the previous Republican speaker, Dustin Burrows. This leadership shift follows a historic Democratic victory in the 2026 midterms, where the party won its first House majority since 2003. If elected in January, Thompson would join Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa and Lt. Gov.-elect Vikki Goodwin to form the first all-woman 'Big Three' in Texas state history.
Democrats are on track to take control of the Texas House for the first time since 2003, needing 14 seat flips to achieve a majority. While only six flips were confirmed by 6 a.m. on November 3, Democrats led in at least a dozen additional Republican-held districts. This shift follows a historic Democratic sweep of statewide offices, including the governorship and U.S. Senate. The Texas Senate remains Republican-controlled with a 19-12 majority, creating a divided state government. Key losses for Republicans include seats in Tarrant, Harris, and Dallas counties, despite significant GOP spending advantages in competitive races. Democrats face financial constraints, with many campaigns running on shoestring budgets due to limited national support. The speaker’s race has begun, with Rep. Senfronia Thompson leading as the frontrunner for the gavel.