Now that the November elections are over and in the past, we must focus on the future of Texas, which will be determined during the 88th legislative session, which is scheduled to begin on January 10th.
The Texas Legislature is a bicameral body composed of a 31-member Senate and a 150-member House of Representatives. Let’s take a look at the six newbies that secured their spot by winning the general election on November 8th, 2022 – they will assume office on January 10, 2023.
Texas State Senate:
Phil King (R-Pleasanton) won the election to Texas State Senate to represent District 10. King serves on the National Board of Directors for the American Legislative Exchange Council and was the 2015 National Chair. In the Texas House, King serves on the State Affairs and the Higher Education Committee, and is a former police officer. He replaces retiring State Senator Beverly Powell (D-Burleson).
Mayes Middleton (R-Wallisville) won the election to Texas State Senate to represent District 11. Middleton is President of Middleton Oil Company, an independent oil and gas company, and former board member of the Austin conservative think tank Texas Public Policy Foundation. He was first elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 2018 to represent House District 23. He replaces retiring Chair of the Senate Education Committee Larry Taylor (R-Friendswood).
Tan Parker (R-Flower Mound) won the election to Texas State Senate to represent District 12. Parker served as the Chairman of the House Republican Caucus for the 2015 84th Legislative Session as well as the 2017 85th Legislative Session after being unanimously elected by his House colleagues. He is replacing Chair of the Senate Finance Committee Jane Nelson (R-Flower Mound).
Peter “Pete” Flores (R-Pleasanton) won the election to Texas State Senate to represent District 24. Flores was a former leader of Texas Parks and Wildlife’s statewide law enforcement division, he honorably retired from state service in 2012 and now works as a consultant and instructor for the National Association of Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs Leadership Academy. He also served as State Senator for District 19 between 2018 to 2020. He replaces Sen. Dawn Buckingham (R-Lakeway), who was recently elected to the Commissioner of the General Land Office.
Morgan LaMantia (D-Brownsville) won the election to Texas State Senate to represent District 27. She is a South Texas businesswoman who heads up data analytics and serves as In-House Counsel for L&F Distributors, a beer distributor. She replaces retiring Sen. and former Vice Chair of Education and Finance Committees Eddie Lucio Jr. (D-Brownsville).
Kevin Sparks (R-Mission) won the election to Texas State Senate to represent District 31. Sparks is president of Discovery Operating, Inc, a family owned and operated oil and gas company in Midland, Texas, and former board member of Austin-based conservative think tank Texas Public Policy Foundation. He replaces retiring Sen. Kel Seliger (R-Amarillo).