Texas Rep. Senfronia Thompson is longest-serving lawmaker in House for record 50 years

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — The state legislature is in session, engaged on varied points. When you could know some faces in Austin, just like the governor and lieutenant governor, there’s one longtime legislator you could not know.

“The very first thing I thought of after I was there 50 years in the past, was that I used to be an individual who was not allowed on the grounds due to my ethnicity just some years earlier. And I used to be in awe due to the truth that I had an opportunity to go and serve within the legislature,” Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, remembers. “After we went in, in 1973, girls couldn’t get a bank card of their identify. I do not care how a lot cash they’d, they could not even purchase property of their identify. The whole lot needed to be performed by means of a person.”

However one male lawmaker discovered he’d crossed the road when he known as Thompson his “Black mistress.” She was livid and took a uncommon private privilege to name out what she known as his disrespect to girls.

“I simply could not perceive why he would try this,” she mentioned, admitting that it price her quite a bit. “It price me my laws. It price me numerous friendships that I most likely would’ve made, however I gained my dignity.”

Ms. T, as she’s affectionately known as, is thought for that dignity and her skill to bridge completely different sides.

“In numerous methods, she’s the conscience of the Texas Legislature,” former state senator and present Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, who labored with Thompson for greater than twenty years. “No matter whether or not somebody is to the fitting or left, Democrat or Republican, she is the one widespread thread that folks flip to relating to points that tends to divide individuals.”

She’s additionally recognized for her combat when she believes one thing’s not proper. Thompson joined Democratic lawmakers who left the state through the 2021 session, involved about modifications within the state’s voting legal guidelines. Eyewitness Information’ Melanie Lawson bumped into them in D.C.

“This combat is so essential for my constituents to have a voice within the Democracy,” Thompson mentioned then.

Now, as she remembers that point, she mentioned, “we could not do something as a result of we have been simply outnumbered. However we needed to take a stand. And numerous our colleagues have been very dissatisfied with us, however I additionally acknowledged numerous them by no means stood in my footwear. They’ve by no means been denied the fitting to vote. They’ve by no means struggled to get the fitting to vote.”

A mural with Thompson’s eyes and the scales of justice downtown now overlooks town she loves, commissioned by Ellis, her longtime good friend.

“I used to be fairly stunned about it. Nevertheless it made me really feel good as a result of it represents justice,” she mentioned.

“She and I labored on hate crime laws,” Ellis mentioned.

The James Byrd Act, named after a Black man who was dragged to dying by three white racists in Jasper, took 10 years to move. However he mentioned she was chargeable for pulling collectively a bipartisan broad-based coalition.

Thompson can be recognized for reaching throughout the aisle, working with a few of her most conservative colleagues.

“We argue, we disagree on issues, however I attempt to follow the problems. And I do not get private with them,” she mentioned.

And he or she says she’s nonetheless acquired quite a bit to do.

“I consider that despite the fact that I am 84 years outdated, I’ve nonetheless acquired time on my aspect,” Thompson mentioned.

When requested, “Do you work you may keep some time longer?” With out lacking a beat, Thompson mentioned, “Completely. What would the legislature do with out me?”

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