In historic first, women poised to hold top three leadership positions in Texas government

When Senfronia Thompson was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1972, there were only two women in the entire Legislature.

Five and a half decades later, a lot has changed. Tuesday’s historic election swept in the state’s first Latina governor, Gina Hinojosa; the first female lieutenant governor, Vikki Goodwin; and enough Democrats to secure House speaker naming rights.

On Friday, Thompson announced she had the votes to become speaker when the Legislature convenes in January under its first Democratic majority since 2003.

If Thompson’s coalition holds, Texas will have its first all-female “Big Three” — governor, lieutenant governor and House speaker. Two women, Miriam “Ma” Ferguson and Ann Richards, have served as governor. No woman has ever held the other two jobs.

“It’s time — well past time — for women to lead in Texas, and Texas has spoken in electing these women,” said state Rep. Christina Morales, a Houston Democrat. “Look at these women’s records. You can see that they are qualified and now they’re going to be in charge of Texas.

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