EAGLE PASS, Texas – Eagle Pass native announced he was running for the most powerful seat in the Texas House. Now State Rep. Eddie Morales Jr. is throwing his support behind Dean Senfronia Thompson, a move that could put the border at the table as Democrats prepare to lead the chamber for the first time in more than two decades. Rep. Morales had an excellent opportunity to secure the position as a border representative. Many state leaders projected he would be able to secure Republican support. TXHD 74 strongly supports Rep. Eddie Morales. The support from Rep. Morales will undoubtedly be a strength added to Rep. Thompson pursuit for Speaker of the House.

“After a meaningful and substantial conversation with Dean Thompson and her team, I have full confidence that the needs of our rural and border communities will be met under her speakership,” Morales wrote on X Friday morning Nov. 6, according to his post. “Texans delivered a mandate for change and the Texas House Democratic Caucus is united heading into the 90th Legislative Session. Let’s get to work and hit the ground running!”

After a meaningful and substantial conversation with Dean Thompson and her team, I have full confidence that the needs of our rural and border communities will be met under her speakership.

Texans delivered a mandate for change and the Texas House Democratic Caucus is united… pic.twitter.com/kJi9GsgDNG
— State Rep. Eddie Morales, Jr. (@moralesfortexas) November 6, 2026

Post by State Rep. Eddie Morales Jr. (@moralesfortexas) on X.

From Speaker Candidate To Thompson Supporter

The endorsement came less than a day after Morales announced his own run for speaker. On Thursday afternoon Nov. 5 he posted that he had officially filed for Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives.

“Born in Piedras Negras, Mexico, raised in a colonia, and working at my family’s tortilla factory since the age of 12, I believe fully in the Texas Dream and in providing opportunity to every Texan,” Morales said in that announcement. “As Speaker, I will commit to every member of the Texas House that their district will have a voice.”

Some Democrats saw a border lawmaker like Morales as a possible rival to Thompson because border Democrats are often viewed as more moderate and could appeal to Republicans looking to build a coalition, according to other local news sources.

Instead, Morales sat down with Thompson. A press release attached to his Friday post, titled “Eddie Morales and Border Legislators Back Dean Thompson for Speaker of the Texas House,” lays out what the border wanted out of that conversation.

“From Brownsville to El Paso, the Texas government has, for decades, underserved our border communities. Our water supply is in crisis. Our lands are being seized by the federal government. Farmers and ranchers are hurting, and our communities are struggling,” the release states.

“I believe Dean Thompson understands the pivotal and significant role the border and rural communities played in turning Texas blue,” Morales said in the release. “I feel comfortable that the border coalition will have a voice in her Administration.” The release also lists critical infrastructure funding, expanding access to quality healthcare and investing in public schools as priorities and ends with a pledge. “The border coalition and I pledge our full support for Dean Thompson for Speaker of the Texas House,” it states.

Thompson Says She Has The Votes

Hours after Morales’s endorsement, Thompson posted Friday afternoon that she had “secured the support of this growing bipartisan coalition of 90 Members” and looked forward to leading the Texas House as Speaker. It takes 76 votes in the 150 member House to win the gavel. The Texas House Democratic Caucus shared her post with two words, “Madam Speaker.”

Thompson, a Houston Democrat who represents House District 141, is the Dean of the Texas House and the longest serving woman and African American in Texas history according to her official Texas House biography. She was first elected in 1972. Texas has never had a woman serve as House speaker.

The race opened after Tuesday’s Nov. 3 election. “For the first time in 23 years, we have flipped the Texas House,” the Texas House Democratic Caucus posted Wednesday. Democrats are looking at an 83 to 67 or 84 to 66 majority, according to other local news sources. The official speaker vote is expected when the 90th Legislature convenes in January.

What It Means For Eagle Pass And The Border

Morales represents House District 74, which his official Texas House biography calls the largest district in Texas. It stretches across 11 counties from his hometown of Eagle Pass in Maverick County to the northeast corner of El Paso County and covers more than 770 miles of the border with Mexico. The district includes Brewster, Culberson, El Paso, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Kinney, Maverick, Presidio, Reeves, Terrell and Val Verde counties.

He is a lifelong Eagle Pass resident who graduated from Eagle Pass High School, earned a political science degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a law degree from St. Mary’s University School of Law, according to his House biography. He is an attorney with an office in Eagle Pass, has served as city attorney for Eagle Pass and Brackettville and owns the family business, the Piedras Negras Tortilla Factory.

Voters sent him back to Austin on Tuesday. Morales won reelection over Republican Robert Garza with 31,205 votes to 17,066 according to unofficial results from the Texas Secretary of State. In Maverick County he carried about 75 percent of the vote, 9,471 to 3,161. He first took office in January 2021 and will begin his fourth term in January.

For Maverick County and the rest of District 74, the question now is whether that early backing turns into real influence. In a speaker’s race, early supporters are often the ones who have the leader’s ear when committee seats and budget priorities are handed out. Morales is betting the border’s priorities, from water to roads to rural healthcare, will get a hearing under Thompson.

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