Senfronia Thompson says she has the votes to become the first woman and first Black Texas House speaker

AUSTIN, Texas - State Rep. Senfronia Thompson, the longest-serving woman and the longest-serving Black legislator in any state, said Friday that she has enough votes to win the Texas House speaker's gavel when the Legislature convenes in January.

Her announcement came hours after state Rep. Eddie Morales Jr., a centrist Democrat from Eagle Pass and Thompson's only other competitor for the post, dropped his bid and endorsed her.

Thompson did not release a list of supporters or say how many members she has in her corner, noting only that she has enough to hit the 76 votes needed to control the 150-member House."The bottom line is, the majority of the House has pledged to me," Thompson said at a news conference at the Capitol, flanked by a crowd of legislators that included a handful of Republicans.