Senfronia Thompson poised to make history as Texas house speaker

Rep. Senfronia Thompson (D–Houston) announced Friday that she has secured enough support to become the next Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, positioning her to make history as the first Black woman to hold the office.

During her announcement, signaling her willingness to be bipartisan, Thompson declared, “the gavel doesn’t belong to me. The gavel doesn’t belong to the Republicans or the Democrats. The gavel belongs to the people of Texas.” She indicated that she would go back to the long tradition of having chairs from both parties, and that the House would focus on solving issues important to Texans rather than bickering under her leadership. She indicated that education would be among her top priorities as Speaker.

Thompson’s selection would mark a historic moment for Texas government. For the first time in state history, all three of Texas’ most powerful political leadership positions—governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker—will be held by women. Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa, Lt. Gov.-elect Vikki Goodwin and Thompson will make up what is often called the “Big Three” of Texas government, an unprecedented change in the state’s political leadership.

Thompson brings more than five decades of legislative experience to the position. First elected in 1972, she has represented House District 141 in northeast Houston for more than 50 years and is the longest-serving woman and Black lawmaker in Texas history. She is also the Dean of the Texas House, which means she is the longest tenured current state representative. Known affectionately by her colleagues as “Ms. T,” she has become one of the most recognizable and respected members of the Texas House.

A Houston native and attorney, Thompson holds degrees from Texas Southern University, Prairie View A&M University, and the University of Houston. Her legislative career has included work on civil rights, criminal justice reform, protections for women and children, human trafficking prevention, and workplace protections. She has built a reputation for working across party lines and maintaining relationships with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. 

That bipartisan respect was on display when Thompson’s portrait was unveiled at the Capitol in 2025. Republican Speaker Dustin Burrows (R–Lubbock) and other lawmakers praised her decades of service, with Republican Rep. Charlie Geren (R–Fort Worth) delivering an emotional tribute to her career. It is clear that lawmakers from both sides of the aisle hold Ms. T in very high regard. 

Thompson’s announcement comes after Democrats won control of the Texas House Tuesday night. By securing the votes needed to win the position, Thompson has put herself in line to lead the chamber during a pivotal session for Texas. The formal speaker election will take place when the House convenes on January 12.