Rep. Ana-María Rodríguez Ramos, a Democrat from Richardson, has officially entered the race for Speaker of the Texas House, becoming the first Democrat to do so in an already crowded field.
The Texas House hasn’t seen a Democratic Speaker since 2003 when Pete Laney held the position. Since then, the House has been solidly controlled by Republicans, with Democrats currently holding just 64 out of the 150 seats.
Despite these odds, Rodríguez Ramos remains undeterred. She believes the outcome of the upcoming elections could alter the composition of the House, leaving room for potential Republican support.
“It’s too early to tell if we’ll get Republican votes because voters haven’t cast their ballots yet,” she said in a recent interview on Inside Texas Politics. “This campaign is about making that change.”
Rodríguez Ramos faces stiff competition, as six Republicans are also vying for the Speaker’s gavel. This includes current Speaker Rep. Dade Phelan of Beaumont, who is seeking a third term, as well as Reps. John Smithee (Amarillo), David Cook (Mansfield), James Frank (Wichita Falls), Shelby Slawson (Stephenville), and Tom Oliverson (Cypress).
Political experts suggest Rodríguez Ramos’ best shot lies in a potential split of Republican votes among their numerous candidates, which could open the door for a unified Democratic vote to propel her to victory.
Rep. Phelan has followed a longstanding Texas tradition of appointing members from the opposite party to chair legislative committees, a move that has angered some far-right Republicans. The five Republican challengers have promised to end the practice if elected Speaker.
Rodríguez Ramos, however, says she would “absolutely” appoint a Republican to a chairmanship if chosen as Speaker.
“Texas leans Democratic, but we haven’t yet reached the voting strength we need. That said, we have hardworking, valuable Republicans in the House. Unfortunately, many moderate Republicans were wiped out during the primaries by MAGA extremists,” she remarked.
Early voting runs from October 21 to November 1, with Election Day on November 5. The vote for Speaker will take place on January 14, 2025, when the legislative session begins.
