By: Christie Goodman

Election night marked a pivotal moment in Texas political history. Nearly ten million Texans cast ballots in Tuesday’s midterm election, producing a dramatic shift in the state's political landscape. After decades of Republican dominance, Democrats captured every statewide elected office.

The political realignment extended beyond state government. Democrats regained control of both the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate. In Texas, Democrats also secured a majority in the Texas House of Representatives, while Republicans maintained control of the Texas Senate.

Democrat Vikki Goodwin defeated Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, creating a divided state government that will convene when the 90th Texas Legislature begins on January 12, 2027. While Goodwin's election reshapes leadership in the Senate, attention will now turn to the Texas House, where members will select their next Speaker. The last Democrat to serve as Speaker of the Texas House was Pete Laney, who held the position from 1993 to 2003.

As a result, the 90th Legislative Session is poised to be one of the most consequential and unpredictable sessions in recent memory. With divided control of state government, lawmakers will face new dynamics in setting legislative priorities, advancing policy initiatives, and negotiating the state's budget.

With January 12 quickly approaching, the FWC, alongside our government affairs committee, has outlined eight key business and economic development priority areas of focus for the Fort Worth Chamber this 90th legislative session.

To achieve these outcomes, the FWC will proactively engage our elected officials and other policymakers to advocate for the enactment of policies that align with these priorities, while resisting proposals that we believe would directly harm our members, undermine our economic competitiveness, or tarnish our reputation as a pro-business community.

The FWC will continue to closely monitor developments at both the state and federal levels, providing timely analysis and advocacy to ensure the priorities of the Fort Worth business community are effectively represented throughout the legislative process.