State Rep. Senfronia Thompson, a Democrat who represents Texas House District 141 in Houston, announced Friday afternoon that she has enough member votes to become Speaker of the Texas House. If elected in January, she would be the first Black and the first female House Speaker in Texas, according to the report.
At a press conference in Austin on Friday, Thompson said she would work with members of both parties, including the Republican majority in the Texas Senate. "It's going to take all of us working together," she said. "The expertise of the Republicans and the expertise of the Democrats, working as a unit to get the things done for this state."
The announcement follows Tuesday's midterm election. Based on projections, Democrats won multiple statewide and local races, including governor-elect Gina Hinojosa and a majority of the Texas House.