Texas Elected Officials

Greg Abbott

Governor

Elected to serve as the 48th Governor of State of Texas, Greg Abbott has a strong record of conservative leadership as Texas’ longest-serving Attorney General.

A husband and father, Governor Abbott has spent his career fighting to preserve Texas values like faith, family and freedom for future generations. As the state’s chief law enforcement official, Governor Abbott made protecting Texas communities the focus of his tenure as Texas’ longest-serving Attorney General.

Dan Patrick

Lt. Governor

Dan Patrick was elected Lt. Governor of Texas in 2014, winning the general election by almost twenty points, including historic levels of support from Hispanic voters and women.

A principled and committed conservative, Lt. Gov. Patrick is leading the fight to secure the border, reduce property and business taxes, and address our state’s infrastructure challenges to assure that Texas continues to flourish economically.

As Education Chairman in the 83rd Legislative Session, Lt. Gov. Patrick passed some of the most far-reaching education reforms in decades, tackling the problems of failing public schools and giving parents more choices for their children.

Dan was twice elected to the Texas Senate from District 7 in Houston and Northwest Harris County. He is a successful small businessman and radio host and is a former television anchor, sportscaster, musician, Christian author and movie producer.

Dan is also involved in his community. He has raised over $16 million for children with disabilities through his radio show and started the first seminary in a Texas prison to train long-serving inmates for the ministry.

Dan has been married to his wife Jan, a former schoolteacher, for 39 years. Their son Ryan is a Harris County Criminal Court District Judge in Houston. Their daughter Shane is a registered nurse. Dan is also the proud grandfather of three grandchildren.

Ken Paxton

Attorney General

Ken Paxton is the 51st attorney general of Texas. He was elected on November 4, 2014, and sworn into office on January 5, 2015.

As the state’s top law enforcement officer, Attorney General Paxton leads more than 4,000 employees in 38 divisions and 117 offices around Texas. That includes nearly 750 attorneys, who handle more than 30,000 cases annually – enforcing child support orders, protecting Texans against consumer fraud, enforcing open government laws, providing legal advice to state officials, and representing the state of Texas in court, among other things.

His first major initiative as attorney general was the formation of a special unit dedicated to combating human trafficking in Texas. During its first year of existence, the Human Trafficking and Transnational Organized Crime (HTTOC) section helped arrest the chief executive officer of Backpage.com, the largest online sex-trafficking marketplace in the United States.

Under Attorney General Paxton’s leadership, the agency’s Child Support Division is recognized as the most successful and cost-effective program in the nation. In fiscal year 2016, the division collected $4.096 billion for Texas families – an unprecedented amount in one year by any state. This success helped spare the state and Texas taxpayers over $1 billion in public assistance costs.

Attorney General Paxton is focused on protecting Texans and upholding Texas laws and the Constitution. Fighting federal overreach, he filed 22 lawsuits against the Obama administration during a two-year stretch, of which five were heard in the U.S. Supreme Court. During his tenure in office, Attorney General Paxton has won major cases for Texas on immigration, school rights, EPA rules and religious freedom. Stopping the Environmental Protection Agency’s “Regional Haze” rule averted higher energy rates for Texans. Businesses were protected and jobs preserved in Texas when Attorney General Paxton prevailed against the Department of Labor’s “Overtime Rule.”

In 2016, Attorney General Paxton secured a final settlement of $50 million in the state’s lawsuit against VW over its emissions cheating scandal. Texas also stands to benefit from as much as $191 million from VW for projects designed to mitigate environmental harm done by the carmaker. Attorney General Paxton has been aggressive in his approach to protecting the health and safety of Texans from illegal synthetic drugs. His office has filed more than a dozen lawsuits to block the sale of synthetic cannabinoids (known as Kush and Spice) in Texas. A special section on the agency’s website provides Texans with the information and resources they need to become fully informed about the dangers of synthetic drugs.

Attorney General Paxton graduated from Baylor University, where he served as student body president, earning a B.A. in psychology and an M.B.A.  After receiving a law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law, he worked as an attorney at Strasburger & Price, LLP, in-house counsel for J.C. Penney Company, and headed up his own law firm for 14 years in McKinney.

First elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 2002, Attorney General Paxton represented House District 70 for 10 years, one of the fastest-growing regions in the state. In 2012, he was elected to the Texas state Senate, representing Senate District 8 in Collin and Dallas counties.

He met his wife Angela, a guidance counselor at Legacy Christian Academy in Frisco, while they were students at Baylor. The Paxtons have four children: Tucker, Abby, Mattie, and Katie. They are members of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano.

Van Taylor

Texas State Senator, District 8

Van Taylor is a dedicated family man, successful businessman, and decorated Marine Officer. Elected in 2010 to the Texas House, Van distinguished himself as a conservative leader and was elected to the Texas Senate with overwhelming local support and backing of a strong coalition of conservative activists and community leaders.

As a Marine Officer and paratrooper, Captain Taylor volunteered for duty as a platoon commander with the Marine Corps’ C Company, 4th Reconnaissance Battalion. He deployed to Iraq where he fought with 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company. Taylor led the first platoon into Iraq for his brigade and led a mission that rescued 31 wounded Marines during the pitched Battle of An Nasiriyah. For his service in Iraq, the Marine Corps awarded Captain Taylor the Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, and the Navy Commendation Medal with “V” for valor.

Throughout his tenure in the Texas Legislature, Taylor has consistently fought to limit the size and reach of government, rein in spending, lower taxes, protect the Rainy Day Fund, and stop the expansion of Obamacare in Texas. For his commitment to conservative principles, Taylor has earned the “Taxpayer Champion” award from Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, the “Courageous Conservative” award from Texas Conservative Coalition, was named a “Top-Rated Conservative” by the Texas Eagle Forum, selected to the “Honor Roll” by the Young Conservatives of Texas, and received an A rating from the National Rifle Association.

Craig Estes

Texas State Senator, District 30

Senator Estes has been appointed by Governor Rick Perry to serve on the Southern States Biobased Alliance and to the Western States Water Council. Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst appointed Senator Estes to the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee of the Southern Legislative Conference of the Council for State Governments, the Agriculture and Energy Committee for the National Conference for State Legislators and the Texas Rural Health and Economic Development Advisory Council.

Senator Estes is a conservative man both personally and politically, and he is committed to promoting conservative principles in his role as a legislator. He serves on the Board of Directors of Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute, and is co-chairman of the Economic Development Task Force. Senator Estes serves his community, having served on the Young Life Committee of Wichita Falls, the boards of directors of the Rotary Club of Wichita Falls, the Wichita Falls Boys Camp, Girls Club, and the Wichita Falls Faith Mission. Senator Estes is an elder in the Presbyterian Church. Senator Estes was born and raised in Wichita Falls and represents the fifth generation from the North Texas area.

Senator Estes is a graduate of Oral Roberts University and a graduate of the Harvard Business School Owner President Manager Program. He and his wife Jennifer have three adult children, Abby, Andrew, and Mark, and four grandchildren, John Holt Cunningham, Charles Estes Cunningham, Robert Owen Cunningham, and Caroline Noel Estes.

Justin Holland

Texas State Representative, District 33

A sixth-generation Rockwall native and REALTOR® since 2006, Justin grew up in a hardworking, and self-reliant family. Justin learned at an early age the value of personal responsibility and dedication in business from his father, Lance Holland. Justin’s father also taught him that giving back to the community and always acting in the best interest of your customers are the keys to success–both in business and life. Justin, along with business partner Leighton Pinkham purchased the family business on January 2, 2014. Guided by these lessons, Justin operates Regal Realtors as co-owner and recently helped lead the family real estate business to being named “Small Business Partner of the Year” in 2014-15 by the Rockwall Area Chamber of Commerce.

Justin was sworn in for the 85th Legislature on January 10, 2017. Texas House District 33 includes Rockwall County and portions of Collin County. In the community, Justin previously served five years as a member of the Heath City Council – two years elected as Mayor Pro Tem. He is a member of Rockwall Rotary Club, a 2014 graduate of Leadership Rockwall, former Vice President of the Heath Economic Development and Municipal Benefits Corporations, an endowed member of East Trinity Lodge #157, a member of the Rockwall Republican Men’s Club, a former member of the City of Heath Special Events Board, a volunteer for Rockwall County Relay for Life, past director of the Rockwall ISD Education Foundation and an active volunteer for Rockwall County Helping Hands.

Justin and wife Neely have been married since 2008 and are raising two young girls. The Hollands are active members of Lake Pointe Church in Rockwall, Texas.

Matt Shaheen

Texas State Representative, District 66

Long active in community and civic affairs, Matt served as Chairman of the Plano Community Relations Committee and as a member of the Plano Transition and Revitalization Commission. He currently serves on the Finance Committee of the Colonial PGA Golf Tournament.

A native of Virginia, Matt received his Bachelor’s degree from Randolph-Macon College, where he received All Conference honors in football in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Matt also holds a Master’s degree from SMU.

Jeff Leach

Texas State Representative, District 67

State Representative Jeff Leach’s conservative convictions are deeply rooted.  Jeff is dedicated to reducing the size and scope of government and lowering taxes to create more economic freedom for individuals, families and businesses in Texas while at the same time being committed to meeting the essential demands of a rapidly growing state. During the 83rd Legislative Session, Jeff authored and championed a provision to limit the reckless expansion of the Texas Medicaid Program under Obamacare – a huge win for Texas taxpayers.  Additionally, Jeff successfully authored and passed legislation providing substantial tax relief for small businesses subject to the onerous franchise tax, encouraging job growth in Texas and broadening the state’s tax base.  Jeff worked passionately on criminal justice issues, passing legislation providing tougher penalties for sexual offenders threatening our neighborhoods.  Jeff also co-authored legislation designed to meet the water infrastructure demands for the future of Texas as well as co-authoring legislation reforming public education curriculum in Texas.

Scott Sanford

Texas State Representative, District 70

Scott is a life-long Texan, and a Baylor Bear for about half of that time. He earned BBA and MTax degrees, and maintains a CPA license in the State of Texas. His career path includes positions at Ernst & Young, and ownership in two franchise endeavors. Scott has served Cottonwood Creek Baptist Church in Allen, TX (formerly First Baptist Church in Fairview) since 1997 and is currently the Executive Pastor.

Scott was elected in 2012 to the Texas House of Representatives. He proudly serves District 70, which includes the cities of Anna, Celina, McKinney, Melissa, Princeton, and Prosper. In Austin, Scott serves on 2 committees, including the Urban Affairs Committee, and the Human Services Committee.

Scott married Shelly Parks in 1987. They live in McKinney, the heart of the 70th House District. Their son, Ryan, graduated from McKinney Boyd High School. He is a junior at Baylor. Lauren, their daughter, is a senior at McKinney Christian Academy. Scott enjoys fishing, but likes catching even better. He is a water and snow skiing enthusiast, but not at the same time.

Jodie Laubenberg

Texas State Representative, District 89

Representative Laubenberg is serving her sixth term in the Texas House. She is currently a member of the Public Health Committee and the Financial and Investment Services Committee, both important to maintaining the state’s vibrant and growing economy. She has also served on Natural Resources, authoring and passing legislation to help secure water resources for North Texas.

Rep. Laubenberg has authored and passed numerous bills that have helped the state and her district, as well as addressing the needs of citizens. Most notably, during the 83rd Special Session, Jodie authored landmark pro-life legislation, HB2, “The Woman’s Health and Preborn Pain Act”.

Jodie is a sixth generation Texan, having family who settled in Texas in 1861. She is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. Rep Laubenberg worked in the computer industry until choosing to become a stay-home mom thus devoting her time to family and community service. Jodie and her husband, Bob, live in Parker with their menagerie of dogs. They have two children, David, also a graduate of UT Austin, and Liz, a graduate of Mississippi College.

Tincy Miller

State Board of Education – Place 12

Tincy returned as the Dist. 12 representative on the State Board of Education in Jan. 2013.  She previously served on the board from 1984 through 2010, including 4 years as Chair of the SBOE (2003-2007). During her time on the board, she served on the Committee on Instruction, including a stint as Committee Chair.  She is a former Vice Chair of the 15 member board.  At other times, she served on the Committee on Students and the Committee on School Finance/Permanent School Fund.  She also served as the board’s representative to the Texas Growth Fund from 1988-1994 and in 1993 chaired the board’s Task Force on Early Childhood and Elementary Education. Tincy is a graduate of the public schools in Dallas, earning a Bachelor of Science degree from Southern Methodist University and a Master of Science in Reading specializing in Dyslexia from Texas A&M University-Commerce. Tincy is past president and served on the advisory board of L.I.F.T. (Literacy Instruction for Texas), a nonprofit organization providing literacy instruction to adults. She is the founding chair for the Baylor Health Care System Foundation’s Annual Giving Campaign and is currently a member in Texas Cultural Trust’s Texas Women for the Arts Commission.