New faces, same majority when Texas Legislature reconvenes

When lawmakers return to the Texas House of Representatives in January, they will have some work to introduce, despite minimal changes in the party balance.

Thirty-two new members will join the Texas House in January; 26 Republicans and six Democrats.

Republicans added two seats on election night and now have an 88-62 majority.

Many of the new Republicans emerged from the efforts of Gov. Greg Abbott to replace members who voted against school vouchers and by Attorney General Ken Paxton, who prosecuted members who voted to impeach him.
These are the 32 new members of the Texas House:

• District 2 – Brent Money (R), replaces Jill Dutton (R)
• District 6 – Daniel Alders (R) to replace Matt Schaefer (R)
• District 11 – Joan Shofner (R), replaces Travis Cldy (R)
• District 12 – Trey Wharton (R), replaces Kyle Kakal (R)
• District 14 – Paul Dyson (R), replaces John Raney (R).
• District 18 – Janice Hold (R), replaces Ernest Bales (R)
• District 26 – Matt Morgan (R), replaces Jaycee Jetton (R)
• District 29 – Jeffrey Barry (R), replaces Ed Thompson (R)
• District 30 – AJ Louderback (R), replaces Jeanie Morrison (R)
• District 33 – Katrina Pearson (R), replaces Justin Holland (R)
• District 34 – Denise Villalobos (R), replaces Abel Herrero (R)
• District 44 – Alan Schoolcraft (R), replaces John Kuempel (R)
• District 53 – Wes Virdell (R), replaces Andrew Murr (R)
• District 55 – Hillary Hickland (R), replaces Hugh Shine (R)
• District 56 – Pat Curry (R), replaces Charles “Doc” Anderson (R).
• District 58 – Helen Kerwin (R), replaces DeWayne Burns (R)
• District 60 – Mike Alcott (R), replaces Glenn Rogers (R)
• District 61 – Keresa Richardson (R), replaces Frederick Fraser (R)
• District 62 – Shelley Luther (R), replaces Reggie Smith (R)
• District 64 – Andy Hopper (R), replacing Lynn Stuckey (R)
• District 65 – Mitch Little (R), replaces Kronda Timesha (R)
• District 77 – Vincent Perez (R), replaces Lina Ortega (R)
• District 80 – Don McLaughlin Jr. (R), replaces Tracy King (D)
• District 87 – Caroline Fairley (R), replaces Four Price (R)
• District 91 – David Lowe (R), replaces Stephanie Click (R)
• District 97 – John McQueeney (R), will replace Craig Goldman (P)
• District 107 – Linda Garcia (D), replaces Victoria Neve Criado (D)
• District 109 – Aisha Davis (D), replaces Carl Oscar Sherman (D)
• District 115 – Cassandra Hernandez (D), replaces Julie Johnson (D)
• District 121 — Mark LaHood (R) will replace Steve Ellison (R).
• District 139 – Charlene Ward Johnson (D), replaces Jarvis Johnson (D).
• District 146 – Lauren Ashley Simmons (D), replaces Shawn Nicole Thierry (D)

State Senate

Only 15 of the state’s 31 Senate seats were up for grabs Tuesday night.

Republicans were hoping to gain one seat and increase their majority to 20-11 when Adam Hinojosa challenged incumbent Democrat Morgan LaMantia in District 27. Results show Hinojosa leading LaMantia by 1% with 99% of the votes counted and a lead of nearly 3,000 votes. for a Republican.

Thirteen officials retained their seats Tuesday night.

Another seat will be won by a new face in January: Brent Hagenbuch will win the 30th District.

Republican Hagenbuch will replace Republican Drew Springer, who did not seek re-election.

The sessions of the 89th Legislative Assembly will begin on January 14, 2025.