Overall Summary & Analysis – Partisan Majorities

Texas Senate

In the 75th Legislative Session of 1997, control of the Texas Senate shifted from the Democrats to the Republicans. This session marked the final term under a Democratic Lieutenant Governor, Bob Bullock, who managed the Senate’s operations. It wasn’t until the next legislative session in 1999, during the 76th Legislature, that the majority of committee chairmen in the Texas Senate aligned with the new majority party. The Republican majority grew after 2001 and has generally maintained its majority since then.

Key Takeaways

  • Over the past five legislative sessions, no Texas Senate committee has had a majority of members from the minority party.
  • Except for the 77th Legislative Session in 2001, the partisan majority of the Texas Senate has controlled nearly each Senate committee.
  • The partisan makeup of the overall Texas Senate has generally stayed the same since the 78th Legislative Session in 2003.
Legislative Session# of Republican
Majority Committees
# of Democrat
Majority Committees
Overall Senate
Partisan Split
Lt. GovernorGovernor
88th (2023)15 (100.00%)0 (0.00%)19R – 12DDan Patrick (R)Greg Abbott (R)
87th (2021)15 (100.00%)0 (0.00%)18R – 13DDan Patrick (R)Greg Abbott (R)
86th (2019)16 (100.00%)0 (0.00%)19R – 12DDan Patrick (R)Greg Abbott (R)
85th (2017)14 (100.00%)0 (0.00%)20R -11DDan Patrick (R)Greg Abbott (R)
84th (2015)14 (100.00%)0 (0.00%)20R -11DDan Patrick (R)Greg Abbott (R)
83rd (2013)17 (94.44%)1 (5.56%)19R – 11DDavid Dewhurst (R)Rick Perry (R)
82nd (2011)16 (88.89%)2 (11.11%)19R – 12DDavid Dewhurst (R)Rick Perry (R)
81st (2009)17 (94.45%)1 (5.55%)19R – 12DDavid Dewhurst (R)Rick Perry (R)
80th (2007)15 (100.00%)0 (0.00%)20R -11DDavid Dewhurst (R)Rick Perry (R)
79th (2005)15 (100.00%)0 (0.00%)19R – 12DDavid Dewhurst (R)Rick Perry (R)
78th (2003)14 (93.33%)1 (6.67%)19R – 12DDavid Dewhurst (R)Rick Perry (R)
77th (2001)6 (50.00%)6 (50.00%)16R – 15DBill Ratliff (R)Rick Perry (R)
76th (1999)9 (69.23%)4 (30.77%)16R – 15DRick Perry (R)George W. Bush (R)
75th (1997)10 (83.33%)2 (16.67%)16R – 14DBob Bullock (D)George W. Bush (R)
74th (1995)2 (22.22%)7 (77.78%)17D – 14RBob Bullock (D)George W. Bush (R)
73rd (1993)2 (20.00%))8 (80.00%)18D – 13RBob Bullock (D)Ann Richards (D)
72nd (1991)0 (0.00%)9 (100.00%)22D – 8RBob Bullock (D)Ann Richards (D)

*Overall Partisan Split represents the number of lawmakers from each political party at the time the legislative session began

Texas House of Representatives

In the 78th Legislative Session of 2003, control of the Texas House of Representatives shifted from the Democrats to the Republicans. This session marked the first term as Speaker of the House for State Rep. Tom Craddick (R-Midland) and when the majority of committee chairmen in the Texas House aligned with the new majority party.

Craddick also appointed committee memberships where the majority was often composed of the minority party. This phenomenon was normally safeguarded by appointing chairmen and vice-chairmen from the majority party.

Key Takeaways

  • Both the 84th Legislative Session (2015) and 85th Legislative Session (2017) had Texas House Committees where not a single standing committee had a majority membership from the minority party.
  • Since the 82nd Legislative Session (2011), the Texas House has rarely had committees with a majority composed of the minority party.
Legislative Session# of Republican
Majority Committees
# of Democrat
Majority Committees
Overall House
Partisan Split
Speaker of the HouseGovernor
88th (2023)32 (94.12%)2 (5.88%)86R – 64DDade Phelan (R)Greg Abbott (R)
87th (2021)32 (94.12%)2 (5.88%)82R – 67DDade Phelan (R)Greg Abbott (R)
86th (2019)30 (88.24%)4 (11.76%)83R – 64DDennis Bonnen (R)Greg Abbott (R)
85th (2017)38 (100.00%)0 (0.00%)95R – 55DJoe Straus (R)Greg Abbott (R)
84th (2015)38 (100.00%)0 (0.00%)97R – 51DJoe Straus (R)Greg Abbott (R)
83rd (2013)36 (94.74%)2 (5.26%)95R – 55DJoe Straus (R)Rick Perry (R)
82nd (2011)36 (97.30%)1 (2.70%)101R – 49DJoe Straus (R)Rick Perry (R)
81st (2009)23 (67.65%)11 (32.35%)76R – 74DJoe Straus (R)Rick Perry (R)
80th (2007)29 (72.50%)11 (27.50%)79R – 69DTom Craddick (R)Rick Perry (R)
79th (2005)32 (80.00%)8 (20.00%)86R – 64DTom Craddick (R)Rick Perry (R)
78th (2003)32 (80.00%)8 (20.00%)88R – 62DTom Craddick (R)Rick Perry (R)
77th (2001)17 (47.22%)19 (52.78%)77D – 71RPete Laney (D)Rick Perry (R)
76th (1999)15 (41.67%)21 (58.33%)78D – 72RPete Laney (D)George W. Bush (R)
75th (1997)10 (27.78%)26 (72.22%)82D – 67RPete Laney (D)George W. Bush (R)
74th (1995)9 (25.00%)27 (75.00%)88D – 61RPete Laney (D)George W. Bush (R)
73rd (1993)7 (22.58%)24 (77.42%)91D – 57RPete Laney (D)Ann Richards (D)
72nd (1991)10 (28.57%)25 (71.43%)92D – 57RGib Lewis (D)Ann Richards (D)

*Overall Partisan Split represents the number of lawmakers from each political party at the time the legislative session began

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