Though the new Democrat majority in the Texas House won’t officially take office until January, lawmakers have already coalesced behind a candidate for speaker.
And this time, they’ve done it with the help of some Republicans.
Longtime Democrat State Rep. Senfronia Thompson of Houston announced Friday that she has secured pledges from a majority of the chamber’s 150 members, effectively positioning her to become the next Speaker of the Texas House.
“The bottom line is that the majority of the House has pledged to me,” Thompson said during a press conference at the Capitol. “I’m not only grateful, but I’m very honored to have been selected to lead the next session of the legislature.”
Thompson, who has served in the House since 1973, will be 88 when the 90th Legislative Session convenes in January.
Her announcement comes just days after Democrats won control of the Texas House for the first time in more than two decades, with the party poised to hold approximately 83 seats following Tuesday’s election.
Thompson was the first Democrat to enter the speaker’s race, announcing her candidacy before election results had even finished rolling in Tuesday night.
State Rep. Eddie Morales (D–Eagle Pass) briefly entered the race Thursday afternoon before withdrawing and throwing his support behind Thompson on Friday morning.
“After meaningful and substantial conversations with Dean Thompson and her team, I believe she understands our concerns and will help us deliver for our rural and border communities,” Morales said.
“Texans have a mandate to deliver change, and the border helped make that possible,” he added.
While Democrats have enough seats to elect a speaker without Republican support, several GOP lawmakers have already lined up behind Thompson.
Republican State Reps. Todd Hunter of Corpus Christi, Charlie Geren of Fort Worth, and Drew Darby of San Angelo were among those present at Friday’s press conference. A full list of names was not released.
Thompson said that she intends to appoint members of both parties to chair committees.
“It’s going to take all of us working together, the expertise of the Republicans and the expertise of the Democrats, working as a unit to get the things done for this state,” she said.
“I’m not here to punish anybody,” Thompson added. “I did that when I was a parent, and all of my children are adults now.”
Some Republicans, however, have signaled they will not be playing along.
State Rep. Andy Hopper (R–Decatur) posted on X Thursday, “There is no situation where any Republican should even consider casting a vote for a democrat Speaker. Every actual Republican should be putting their war paint on for the 90th.”
That sentiment was echoed by State Rep. Brent Money (R–Greenville), who wrote, “I will not beg for crumbs from the party that celebrated the life of Cecile Richards and the death of Charlie Kirk.”
For its part, the Texas House Republican Caucus is still scheduled to nominate its own candidate for speaker during a December 5 meeting.
State Rep. Tom Oliverson (R–Tomball), chairman of the House Republican Caucus, told Texas Scorecard he believes the vast majority of Republican members will wait until the caucus has an opportunity to select its nominee rather than immediately sign on with the new Democrat speaker.
Oliverson also emphasized that Republicans would not simply waive the white flag and allow Democrats to run the House without putting up a fight, particularly on issues where the two parties disagree.
The incoming speaker will replace Republican Dustin Burrows of Lubbock.
While Thompson has declared she has the votes necessary to become speaker, the official election will not take place until lawmakers convene in January.
