The 80th Texas Legislature met in regular session beginning 9 January 2007. All members of the
House of Representatives
House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entitles. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often c ...
and 16 members of the
Senate were up for election on 7 November 2006 in the
Texas Legislature election.
The 80th Texas Legislature convened in Regular Session on 9 January 2007. The Legislature adjourned on 28 May 2007.
Party summary
Senate
House of Representatives
At the beginning of the regular session, the Republican Party held an 80–69 advantage with one vacancy that was filled by the GOP, creating an 81–69 Republican majority (reflected above). After the Regular Session, one Representative left the GOP and joined the Democratic Party and another Republican resigned and was replaced by a Democrat in a special election, making the tally 79–71. In February, one Democrat resigned, whose vacancy was filled by another Democrat, restoring the 79–71 tally before a GOP member of the House died, bringing the final composition to 78–71 with one vacancy.
Officers
Senate
* Lieutenant Governor:
David Dewhurst
David Henry Dewhurst (born August 18, 1945) is an American politician, businessman, and attorney who served as the 41st Lieutenant Governor of Texas, serving from 2003 to 2015. A member of the Republican Party, he was the Texas Land Commissioner ...
, Republican
* President Pro Tempore:
:''Regular Session'':
Mario Gallegos, Democrat
:''Ad Interim'':
John Carona, Republican
House of Representatives
*
Speaker of the House
The speaker of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body, is its presiding officer, or the chair. The title was first used in 1377 in England.
Usage
The title was first recorded in 1377 to describe the role of Thomas de Hungerf ...
:
Tom Craddick, Republican
Members
Senate
House of Representatives
: The incumbent, Republican Glenda Dawson, died before the election but after she could be replaced on the ballot. She won the November election, and was replaced by Mike O'Day (R-
Pearland
Pearland ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Texas, within Brazoria County, with portions extending into Fort Bend and Harris counties. The city of Pearland is a principal city within the metropolitan statistical area. At the 2020 U.S. census, t ...
), elected on January 16, 2007 in a special election run-off
He was sworn into office on January 25, 2007
: State Rep. Kirk England of
Grand Prairie, Texas, Grand Prairie served as a Republican during the regular session, but joined the Democratic Party on September 19, 2007
: State Rep. Anna Mowrey, a Republican, resigned and was replaced in a special election by
Dan Barrett (Texas politician), Dan Barrett, a Democrat elected on December 18, 200
: State Rep. Robert Puente (D-
San Antonio, Texas, San Antonio) resigned on February 1, 2008
2008 Elections
Incumbents retiring or seeking other offices
* Rep. Robert Cook (D-
Eagle Lake, Texas, Eagle Lake)
* Rep. Mike O'Day (R-
Pearland
Pearland ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Texas, within Brazoria County, with portions extending into Fort Bend and Harris counties. The city of Pearland is a principal city within the metropolitan statistical area. At the 2020 U.S. census, t ...
)
* Rep. Mike Krusee (R-
Austin)
* Rep. Dianne White Delisi (R-
Temple
A temple (from the Latin ) is a building reserved for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. Religions which erect temples include Christianity (whose temples are typically called churches), Hinduism (whose temples ...
)
* Rep.
Rick Noriega
Richard Joel Noriega (born January 8, 1958) is a former American politician and retired major general in the Texas Army National Guard who is currently director of Harris County Universal Services (HCUS). From 1998 to 2009, Noriega was a Democr ...
(D-
Houston
Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 i ...
), ran for
U.S. Senate
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States.
The composition and pow ...
Incumbents defeated in primary
* Rep. Paul Moreno (D-
El Paso
El Paso (; "the pass") is a city in and the seat of El Paso County in the western corner of the U.S. state of Texas. The 2020 population of the city from the U.S. Census Bureau was 678,815, making it the 23rd-largest city in the U.S., the s ...
)
* Rep. Juan Manuel Escobar (D-
Kingsville)
* Rep. Corbin Van Arsdale (R-
Houston
Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 i ...
)
* Rep. Kevin Bailey (D-
Houston
Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 i ...
)
* Rep.
Borris Miles (D-
Houston
Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 i ...
)
External links
{{TexasLegislatures
80 Texas Legislature
2007 U.S. legislative sessions
2008 U.S. legislative sessions
2007 in Texas