Texas Democrats likely to pick woman or person of color for Speaker if they win the State House.
Last edited Mon Sep 28, 2020, 11:02 PM - Edit history (1)
As Democrats and Republicans fight for control of the Texas House, party insiders and prospective candidates are having quiet conversations about who will be the next Texas House speaker.
The drama hinges on whether Democrats can pick up nine seats in November’s elections and take control of the House. If that happens, you’ll see the first Democratic Party speaker since Pete Laney of Hale Center wielded the gavel in 2001. If Republicans hold on in November, expect a speaker from the GOP ranks to replace Dennis Bonnen.
Bonnen is retiring after a secret recording of a meeting with Empower Texans leader Michael Quinn Sullivan revealed the Angleton Republican disparaged Democrats, discussed targeting 10 Republicans for defeat and plotted to make the next legislative session the worst in history for local governments.
Now that he’s departed the political scene, the race for House speaker offers numerous possibilities.
The Texas Tribune’s Cassandra Pollock last Friday reported that both parties are considering candidates and it’s been a question posed to lawmakers participating at the annual TribFest.
No one has officially filed the paperwork with the Texas Ethics Commission to begin running for House speaker, so it’s against the rules for members to lobby each other for the job.
There may be a couple of candidates who emerge before the November election, but most contenders will likely wait until after the election.
Here are some of the possibilities.
If Democrats take control of the House, they will likely pick a woman or person of color to lead the chamber. Conversations I’ve had with several House members, lobbyists and consultants who haunt the capitol have produced numerous names.
Leading Democratic contenders include Senfronia Thompson of Houston, House speaker pro tempore Joe Moody of El Paso, Rafael Anchia of Dallas, Trey Martinez Fischer of San Antonio, Ina Minjarez of San Antonio, Oscar Longoria of Mission and Donna Howard of Austin.
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2020/09/28/as-battle-for-texas-house-rages-democrats-republicans-consider-run-for-speaker/
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