A look at notable Texas politicians past and present

The Lone Star State has had its fair share of major political figures over the years.

From presidents to senators and beyond, these individuals have shaped — and continue to shape — Texas politics. 

Here’s a look at some notable Texas politicians from the present and past: 

U.S. Senators: John Cornyn (R) and Ted Cruz (R)

Texas Governor: Greg Abbott (R)

Texas Lieutenant Governor: Dan Patrick (R)

2026 Republican U.S. Senate candidate and Texas Attorney General: Ken Paxton (R)

2026 Democratic U.S. Senate candidate and member of the Texas House of Representatives: James Talarico (D)

U.S. Representatives as of July 20, 2026: 

District 3 – Keith Self (R-McKinney)
District 4 – Pat Fallon (R-Frisco)
District 5 – Lance Gooden (R-Sunnyvale)
District 6 – Jake Ellzey (R-Midlothian)
District 12 – Craig Goldman (R-Fort Worth)
District 24 – Beth Van Duyne (R-Irving)
District 25 – Roger Williams (R-Weatherford)
District 26 – Brandon Gill (R-Flower Mound)
District 30 – Jasmine Crockett (D-Dallas)
District 32 – Julie Johnson (D-Farmers Branch)
District 33  – Marc Veasey (D-Fort Worth)

District 2 – Bob Hall (R-Edgewood)
District 8 – Angela Paxton (R-McKinney)
District 9 – Taylor Rehmet (D-Fort Worth)
District 12 – Tan Parker (R-Flower Mound)
District 16 – Nathan Johnson (D-Dallas)
District 23 – Royce West (D-Dallas)
District 30 – Brent Hagenbuch (R-Denton)

Mayor of Dallas: Eric Johnson (R)

Dallas City Council members:

District 1- Chad West
District 2 – Jesse Moreno (Mayor pro tem)
District 3 – Zarin Gracey
District 4 – Maxie Johnson
District 5 – Jaime Resendez
District 6 – Laura Cadena
District 7 – Adam Bazaldua
District 8 – Lorie Blair
District 9 – Paula Blackmon
District 10 – Kathy Stewart
District 11 – Bill Roth
District 12 – Cara Mendelsohn
District 13 – Gay Donnell Willis (Deputy mayor pro tem)
District 14 – Paul E. Ridley

Dwight D. Eisenhower: Born in Denison. He served as U.S. President from 1953-1961 and was a key U.S. military leader during World War II.

Lyndon B. Johnson: Born in the Texas Hill Country. Served as U.S. President from 1963-1969 and as John F. Kennedy’s vice president from 1961-1963. He was also a U.S. Senator for Texas from 1949-1961 and a congressman from Texas between 1937-1949.

George H.W. Bush: Served as U.S. President from 1989-1993 and as Ronald Reagan’s vice president from 1981-1989. In addition to several notable executive appointments, he was a Congressman from Texas between 1967-1971.

George W. Bush: Served as U.S. President from 2001-2009. He was Texas Governor from 1995-2000. 

Sam Rayburn: Three-time Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and longest-tenured Speaker ever with more than 17 years of service across his three terms. He served in the House from 1913-1961 and is the longest-serving congressman from Texas ever.

Barbara Jordan: Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas between 1973-1979. She was the first Black woman ever elected to Congress from the South. She is also remembered for her opening remarks to the House Judiciary Committee as it considered articles of impeachment against Richard Nixon.

Kay Bailey Hutchinson: U.S. Senator from Texas between 1993-2013. She was the first woman to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate.

Eddie Bernice Johnson: Served as a congresswoman from Dallas between 1993-2023. She had previously served as a state representative (1973-1977) and state senator (1987-1993) after becoming the first Black woman to win electoral office in Dallas in 1972.

John Connally: Governor of Texas between 1963-1969. Served as U.S. Treasury Secretary under Richard Nixon from 1971-1972. As governor, he was wounded while riding in the motorcade alongside John F. Kennedy the day he was assassinated in Dallas.

Ann Richards: Governor of Texas between 1991-1995. She was only the second woman elected Texas governor and, as of 2026, is the last Democrat elected governor in the state.

Sam Houston: A major 19th century figure in Texas politics. He twice served as president of the Republic of Texas (1836-1838 and 1841-1844) and led the push for annexation to the United States. He was elected as U.S. Senator for Texas in 1846 and later served as state governor from 1859-1861 with his term ending prematurely because of his opposition to secession. 

Stephen F. Austin: Known as the “Father of Texas,” he led American settlers into Texas and later led Texan forces during the Revolution. He briefly served as Secretary of State of Texas until his death.

J. Woodall Rodgers: Served as Dallas mayor from 1939-1947. Under his leadership, Love Field Airport expanded and several major constructions began including Central Expressway (U.S. 75), Lewisville Lake and the Dallas Public Library.

J. Erik Jonsson: Served as Mayor of Dallas from 1964-1971. He guided the city through for years following the JFK assassination and helped push through several major improvements like a new city hall, a convention center and a central library, now named in his honor. He was also a strong advocate for DFW Airport, which opened a few years after his term ended.

Juanita Craft: A Dallas city council member between 1975-1979, she is also a major figure in the Dallas and Texas civil rights movement.

Al Lipscomb: A member of Dallas City Council between 1984-1993 and 1995-2000. A notable civil rights advocate, he helped reshape how the city council was elected, changing from citywide districts to mostly single-member districts. In 2000, he was convicted on federal bribery charges that were later overturned on appeal.