Veteran State Rep. Senfronia Thompson has formally launched her campaign to become the next Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, declaring that she has already secured the necessary majority backing to lead the chamber in the upcoming legislative session.

Senfronia Thompson's bid to run for Texas House Speaker The backstory: Thompson, a Houston Democrat who entered the Legislature in 1973, is both the longest-serving woman and the longest-serving African American lawmaker in Texas history.

Her bid follows a critical consolidation of Democratic support after fellow Democratic State Rep. Eddie Morales abruptly withdrew his own candidacy and endorsed Thompson.