Texas state Rep. Senfronia Thompson announced Friday that she has secured the support of a majority of House members in her bid to become the next speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, positioning the longtime lawmaker to make history as the chamber prepares for its 90th Legislative Session.
Speaking at a news conference in Austin, Thompson said she was honored by the support of her colleagues and expressed confidence in her ability to lead a House made up of both Democrats and Republicans.
“I’m not only grateful, but I’m very honored to have been selected to lead the next session of the legislature, which will be the 90th session, and I know that with the colleagues that are being sent to the legislature, both Democrats and Republicans working together, we can make a difference in the state of Texas and the lives of the people that we represent,” Thompson said.
As Thompson entered the Texas House press office, she was greeted with applause. She opened her remarks with a touch of humor, a familiar part of her public personality.
“All right, I made my order. Pass out the margaritas,” she joked.
But beyond the lighthearted moment, Thompson quickly turned to the responsibilities of the speakership, offering a glimpse into the leadership style she hopes to bring to the chamber.
“I don’t have a dictatorship that I’m going to tell people what to do, but I have my own ideas, and I expect members to have to represent their districts, to work hard, and to deliver to the people things that we promised that we were going to do,” she said.
A central theme throughout Thompson’s remarks was the need for bipartisan cooperation. She emphasized that addressing the state’s challenges will require lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to put political differences aside and focus on the needs of Texans.
“I’m not here to punish anybody. I did that when I was a parent, and all of my children are adults now,” Thompson said. “But I am thankful for the fact that we are going to be working to resolve the issues, to solve the problems, to take care of the people’s business, and not to be bickering and fighting about little wee-wee things that really have no place within our legislative process.”
When asked what the moment meant to her in 2026, compared with when she was first elected to the Texas Legislature in 1973, Thompson reflected on how much the political landscape has changed.
At the time she entered the Legislature, women, particularly women of color, were significantly underrepresented in state government. Thompson acknowledged the challenges of navigating those early years but said her decades of experience working across party lines have prepared her to lead.
“I have worked with the majority, and I have worked with the minority. I have been chairman of committees, and I have been vice chairman of committees,” Thompson said. “And, ladies and gentlemen, let me tell you something: When we work on issues, you don’t look whether or not you’re working with a Republican or Democrat. Can we get a solution that’s going to benefit the people of this state of Texas?”
Although Thompson says she has secured the support needed to become the next speaker, the position will not be official until House members formally cast their votes.
The Texas House is expected to elect its next speaker when the 90th Legislature convenes in January. The speaker is elected by a majority of House members, making Thompson’s ability to maintain support among her colleagues critical to securing the position.
Thompson closed her remarks with a message about who she believes the speakership ultimately serves the people of Texas.
“The gavel doesn’t belong to me. The gavel does not belong to the Republicans nor the Democrats. The gavel belongs to the people of this state of Texas.”
