In a statement, Longoria said, “I am running for Speaker to ensure that we have stability, civility, and integrity in the Texas House. The unprecedented challenges we face require a leader who can build consensus across the political aisle, across rural and urban communities, and across ideologies.”
Longoria represents House District 35, which encompasses Cameron and Hidalgo Counties.
He has served in the state House since 2013 and is the vice-chair of the powerful Appropriations Committee, while also serving on the Calendars and Pensions, Investments, & Financial Services Committees.
“When campaign season concludes Tuesday, it will be time for our body to go to work for the people of our state,” he added, citing budgetary concerns along with stressing priorities such as public education and healthcare.
Longoria is the third Democrat to enter, joining Reps. Senfronia Thompson (D-Houston) and Trey Martinez Fischer (D-San Antonio), and sixth candidate overall after three Republicans announced today.
Representing House District 30, Morrison has been in the legislature since 1999 and chairs the Local & Consent Committee.
First reported by the Texas Tribune, Morrison released a statement, saying, “After thoughtful prayer and with the encouragement of my colleagues, I am honored to file my candidacy for Speaker of the Texas House.”
“Texas has led the nation in job growth [and] has a proven formula for economic success. I will stick to our principles so we can quickly recover from the economic downturn and get Texas back to work,” she concluded.
Democrats vying for the speakership are banking on the possibility of the Texas House flipping next Tuesday, particularly after the disarray caused by current Speaker Dennis Bonnen’s (R-Angleton) quid pro quo scandal last year that caused him to abstain from running for re-election.
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Brad Johnson
Brad Johnson is a senior reporter for The Texan and an Ohio native who graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 2017. He is an avid sports fan who most enjoys watching his favorite teams continue their title drought throughout his cognizant lifetime. In his free time, you may find Brad quoting Monty Python productions and trying to calculate the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow.
