With Texas electing its first Latina governor and first woman lieutenant governor, a Houston Democrat says she has the votes to become the first woman to lead the state House. If she does, it would mark the first time women have held the state's top three offices.
On Nov. 6, state Rep. Senfronia Thompson, 87, announced she had built a bipartisan coalition of 90 of the chamber's 150 members — well above the 76 needed — to win the speakership.
"I am honored to have secured the support of this growing bipartisan coalition of 90 Members. I look forward to leading the Texas House as Speaker," Thompson said on X.
In Texas, like in the U.S. House, voters don't elect the speaker. Instead, House members choose one of their own, and whoever builds a coalition
and earns enough votes wins.
While the House won't take the official vote until the 90th legislative session convenes in January, if her coalition holds, she will succeed Republican Speaker Dustin Burrows of Lubbock and become the first woman and first Black lawmaker to hold the title and gavel.
Who is Senfronia Thompson?
Known as "Ms. T" at the Capitol, she was first elected to the House in 1972 and currently represents Texas's 141st State House District in Houston.
She is also the Dean of the Texas House, an honorary title given to the chamber's longest-serving member. Thompson is also the longest-serving Black woman lawmaker in state history.
She graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in Houston. She also earned a bachelor's degree in biology from Texas Southern University and a master's in education from Prairie View A&M University.
She later earned her law degree from Thurgood Marshall School of Law and a master of law in International Law from the University of Houston.
Why does this matter?
In Texas, the governor, lieutenant governor and speaker offices hold vast influence, but put together, known in the state as the "Big Three," the offices control the legislative priorities of what bills will become law.
The speaker makes the House committee assignments, appoints committee chairs and vice chairs and controls the overall flow of what legislation makes it to the floor for a vote. Democrats are poised to hold the House majority.
The lieutenant governor presides over the state Senate, appoints its committees and largely decides which bills come up for a vote. Democratic Lieutenant Governor-elect Vikki Goodwin is set to lead the Senate, with Republicans controlling the majority.
Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa and Goodwin will take office in January 2027. The House will elect its speaker when the new session begins Jan. 12.
Mateo Rosiles is the Texas Connect reporter for USA TODAY and its regional papers in Texas, based in Austin. Got a news tip for him? Email him at mrosiles@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Texas could make history with women leading all 3 top offices
