Senfronia Thompson

Senfronia Paige Thompson (born January 1, 1939) is an American politician. A member of the Democratic Party, she has represented the 141st district in the Texas House of Representatives since 1973. She is the former dean of women legislators in Texas and is the longest-serving African American or female lawmaker in state history. She has been elected to 25 terms in office.

Biography

Thompson was born in Booth, Texas, and raised in Houston. She has a Bachelor of Science in biology and a Master's degree in education from Texas Southern University; a Juris Doctor from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law; and a Master of Law in international law from the University of Houston. Thompson has two adult children, one grandson, one granddaughter and one great-granddaughter.

She represents House District 141, which covers northeast Houston and the Humble area. A notable piece of legislation she wrote is the Texas puppy mill bill. Thompson also advises the United Negro College Fund in Texas.

In October 2020, she filed to run for Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, but the Republican Party retained control of the chamber in the November 2020 election. On May 30, 2021, she described her own family's struggles to exercise their right to vote to fellow Texas House Democrats as they strategized how to block Senate Bill 7. At 11:00 p.m., the Democrats staged a walkout of the House chamber to block a vote on the bill before the midnight deadline.

Since 2021,Thompson has held the title of "Dean of the House", having served longer in the legislature than any other woman or African-American person in Texas history. She shares the title with representative Tom Craddick who is the longest serving male representative.

On June 2, 2025, it was announced that a portrait of her likeness, painted by Kermit Oliver, would be put on display in the Texas Capitol in recognition of her service.

Personal life Thompson is Catholic.