Legislative Message

October 2020


Theresa Q. Tran, MD, MBA, FACEP
Chair, Government Relations Committee

No one has been spared from the information overload surrounding the 2020 Presidential race. This election feels like one of the most consequential in recent memory, regardless of who you support. But important elections aren’t just occurring at the national level. There are also elections that could create big changes in the Legislature in Austin. And it is important for TCEP and our members to do our part to support candidates that support emergency medicine.

We have witnessed a tremendous amount of turnover in the state legislature and in statewide elected offices in the last several years, and many race outcomes this year could change the power structure of the Texas legislature when elected officials arrive in Austin in January for the 2021 legislative session.

This is why EMPACT ( TCEP Political Action Committee) has endorsed and will support a broad slate of Texas legislative candidates in the November elections this year. These candidates have shown that they deserve our support, regardless of political affiliation, because they have committed to supporting emergency medicine and physician practices.

A full list of the endorsed candidates is included below. If you already know or are willing to become acquainted with anyone on the list, please let us know ASAP ( [email protected]). If you see someone from your area who you don’t already know but would be interested in meeting and hearing more about how they would support TCEP, contact us ( [email protected]). Efforts are already under way to schedule in-person or Zoom meetings with each of these legislators, and we need your participation.

It would be in TCEP’s best interest to have a personal contact for each and every elected official in Texas.

2020 ELECTION EMPACT Candidate Endorsement List

TEXAS SENATE

MemberHometown
Carol Alvarado (D) Houston
Brian Birdwell (R) Granbury
Cesar Blanco (D) El Paso
Dawn Buckingham (R) Lakeway
Donna Campbell (R) New Braunfels
Brandon Creighton (R) Conroe
Sarah Eckhardt (D) Austin
Pete Flores (R) San Antonio
Kelly Hancock (R) Fort Worth
Chuy Hinojosa (D) McAllen
Lois Kolkhorst (R) Brenham
Jose Menendez (D) San Antonio
Borris Miles (D) Houston
Robert Nichols (R) Jacksonville
Charles Perry (R) Lubbock
Beverly Powell (D) Burleson
Drew Springer (R) Muenster
Larry Taylor (R) Houston
John Whitmire (D) Houston
Judith Zaffirini (D) Laredo
Lt. Governor Dan Patrick (R)  

TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MemberHometown
Steve Allison (R) San Antonio
Rafael Anchia (D) Dallas
Trent Ashby (R) Lufkin
Ernest Bailes (R) Shepherd
Greg Bonnen (R) houston
DeWayne Burns (R) Cleburne
Terry Canales (D) Valley
Gio Capriglione (R) Southlake
Angie Chen Button (R) Richardson
Garnet Coleman (D) houston
David Cook (R) Mansfield
Sarah Davis (R) Houston
Jay Dean (R) Longview
Jake Ellzey (R) Midlothian
Trey Martinez Fischer (D) San Antonio
Charlie Geren (R) Fort Worth
Craig Goldman (R) Fort Worth
Mary Gonzales (D) El Paso
Ryan Guillen (D) Valley
Sam Harless (R) Houston
Cody Harris (R) Corsicana
Gina Hinojosa (D) Austin
Donna Howard (D) Austin
Carrie Isaac (R) Dripping Springs
Julie Johnson (D) Dallas
Ken King (R) Canadian
John Kuempel (R) Seguin
Stan Lambert (R) Abilene
Lyle Larson (R) San Antonio
Oscar Longoria (D) Mission
Eddie Lucio, III (D) Brownsville
Mando Martinez (D) Weslaco
Will Metcalf (R) Houston
Morgan Meyer (R) Dallas
Ina Minjarez (D) San Antonio
Geanie Morrison (R) Victoria
Jim Murphy (R) Houston
Sergio Munoz (D) Houston
Andy Murr (R) Uvalde
Tom Oliverson (R) Houston
Chris Paddie (R) Marshall
Jared Patterson (R) Frisco
Dade Phelan (R) Beaumont
Four Price (R) Amarillo
Richard Raymond (D) Laredo
Glenn Rogers (R) Graford
Eddie Rodriguez (D) Austin
Ramon Romero, Jr. (D) Fort Worth
Toni Rose (D) Dallas
Joe Rosenthal (D) Houston
Lynn Stucky (R) Denton
Toni Rose (D) Dallas
Ed Thompson (R) Pearland
Senfronia Thompson (D) Houston
John Turner (D) Dallas
Chris Turner (D) Grand Prairie

We have a fascinating political season and legislative session ahead that promises to be filled with change. Don’t stand by without supporting TCEP and our efforts to make sure that this change is for the better for our patients and our specialty.

Sincerely,
Theresa Q. Tran, MD, MBA, FACEP
Chair, Government Relations Committee