State Rep. John Bryant
A Dallas attorney, former seven-term U.S. Congressman (1983–1997), and former Texas House member (1975–1983), Rep. Bryant returned to the Texas Legislature in 2023 after a 40-year absence and serves on the House Committees on Pensions, Investments & Financial Services and Public Education.
- Term
- Jan. 14, 2025 – Jan. 12, 2027
- Serving since
- 2023
- Seniority
- #40 of 150
- Occupation
- Attorney
- Education
- B.A./J.D., Southern Methodist University
- Next election
- Nov. 7, 2028 (primary March 7, 2028)
Contact
District
Official House District 114 map (PDF)
- Counties
- Dallas (Part)
- Cities & CDPs
- Dallas (Part)
- Region
- North Texas (DFW)
District Profile
- Hispanic 32.2%
- Anglo 45.6%
- Black 14.2%
- Asian 6.8%
- Other 1.2%
How this district voted
Source: Texas Legislative Council, PLANH2316 reports Red-100 (2020 Census) and Red-206 (2024 general election).
Committees
89th Legislature (2025)
Legislation
89th Legislature (2025)
Biography
Rep. John Wiley Bryant was born in Lake Jackson, Brazoria County, Texas. He graduated from Brazosport High School in Freeport, Texas in 1965 and went on to earn his Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern Methodist University in 1969 and his Juris Doctorate from Southern Methodist University School of Law in 1972. He was admitted to the Texas bar in 1972 and commenced practice in Dallas.
Rep. Bryant served as counsel to a committee of the Texas Senate in 1973 before being elected to the Texas House of Representatives in a 1974 special election. He was reelected four times, serving through 1983. He then served as a delegate to the 1976 Democratic National Convention.
In 1982, Rep. Bryant was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas’ 5th Congressional District, serving seven consecutive terms from January 3, 1983 through January 3, 1997. He was the primary sponsor of the Texas Wilderness Act of 1984 (H.R. 3788, Pub. L. 98–574), which designated five wilderness areas in the national forests of East Texas totaling more than 34,000 acres.
After leaving Congress, Rep. Bryant returned to practicing law in Dallas. In 2022, 39 years after leaving the Texas Legislature, he was elected to represent House District 114. He was sworn in in January 2023, defeating Sarah Lamb in the November 2022 general election.
Rep. Bryant has been named twice as one of Texas Monthly’s “Ten Best Legislators.”
and the
U.S. House of Representatives Biographical Directory
Biography adapted from the official Texas House website.
Campaign Finance
TPR Coverage
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Service History
- Texas House, District 114 · 2023–present
- Texas House, District 33-L · 1974–1983 (Special election, 1974; resigned Jan. 3, 1983)
