Donna Howard
Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from the 48th district
Assumed office
March 2, 2006
Preceded byTodd Baxter
Chair of the Texas House Women's Health Caucus
Assumed office
January 24th, 2020
Preceded byJessica Farrar
Personal details
Born (1951-10-25) October 25, 1951
Austin, Texas, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseDerek Howard
ResidenceAustin, Texas
Alma materUniversity of Texas (B.A.)
University of Texas (M.A.)
ProfessionCommunity Advocate
Critical Care Nurse

Donna Smelser Howard (born October 25, 1951) is a Democratic member of the Texas House of Representatives, representing the 48th District since her election in 2006. She currently serves as vice chair of the House Administration Committee and also serves on the Appropriations Committee, the Higher Education Committee, and the Appropriations Sub-Committees on Article III and on Budget Transparency and Reform.

Early life, education, and early career

Howard was born in Austin, Texas. She graduated from Reagan High School in Austin before moving on to the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned a B.A. in Nursing in 1974 and an M.A. in Health Administration in 1977.[1][2]

Howard worked as a critical-care nurse at Brackenrige Hospital and Seton Hospital in Austin.[3] While at Seton, she helped start the Good Health program and served as District 5 President of the Texas Nurse's Association.[3] Howard also served on the University of Texas faculty as a Health Education instructor.[3]

Political career

From 1996 to 1999, Howard served on the Eanes Independent School District school board.[4]

On February 14, 2006, Howard defeated Republican Ben Bentzin in a special election runoff to replace Todd Baxter.[5]

In the 2006 general election, Howard was again to face Bentzin, but Bentzin ultimately withdrew from the race, which Howard won by a wide margin.[6]

Howard retained her seat in 2008, defeating Republican Pamela Waggoner.[7]

In 2009, the Texas Association of Deans and Directors of Professional Nursing Programs honored Howard with its Champion for Nursing Education Award.[3]

In 2010, Howard narrowly defeated former Texas Longhorn and Denver Broncos player Dan Neil. On election day, the Secretary of State of Texas certified Howard as the winner by 16 votes.[8] Following a recount requested by Neil, the Secretary of State found Howard to still be the winner, though by only 12 votes.[9] Neil then requested that the election be investigated by the House of Representatives.[9] After a four-day hearing headed up by Representative Will Hartnett, Howard was found to have won the election by 4 votes and Neil ultimately dropped the contest.[9] The Secretary of State still reports an official margin of 12 votes.[10] Even with the 12 vote victory that the Secretary of State considers official, it is the closest Texas House race on record.

In 2011, Howard was the recipient of the 2011 Dr. Dorothy J. Lovett Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Texas School of Nursing and was inducted in the University of Texas College of Education Hall of Honor.[11][12]

In 2019, Howard authored H.B. 1590, which created a Sexual Assault Survivors Task Force in the Governor's Office to collect information on agencies' responses to sexual assaults and develop best practices. The bill passed unanimously in the House and Senate and was signed by the Governor.[13] The Task Force began meeting on February 6, 2020, and is due to deliver a series of reports to the Texas Legislature on November 1, 2020.[14]

Texas Monthly named Howard a Best Lawmaker in June 2019 for her work during Texas' 86th Legislative session.[15]

Electoral history

Election history of Howard.[16]

2022

Texas House of Representatives 48th district, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Donna Howard (Incumbent) 64,039 79.6
Libertarian Daniel Jerome Mccarthy 16,439 20.4
Majority 47,600 59.1
Turnout 80,478 54.6
Democratic hold

2020

Texas House of Representatives 48th district, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Donna Howard (Incumbent) 73,590 70.1
Republican Bill Strieber 31,382 29.9
Majority 42,208 40.2
Turnout 104,972 71.6
Democratic hold

2018

Texas House of Representatives 48th district, 2018[17]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Donna Howard (Incumbent) 67,952 100.0
Majority 67,952 100.0
Turnout 67,952 8.8
Democratic hold

2016

Texas House of Representatives 48th district, 2016[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Donna Howard (Incumbent) 60,512 79.4
Libertarian Ben Easton 15,702 20.6
Majority 44,810 58.8
Turnout 76,214 10.5
Democratic hold

2014

Texas House of Representatives 48th district, 2014[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Donna Howard (Incumbent) 39,668 78.1
Libertarian Ben Easton 11,126 21.9
Majority 28,542 56.2
Turnout 50,794
Democratic hold

2012

Texas House of Representatives 48th district, 2012[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Donna Howard (Incumbent) 46,512 59.2
Republican Robert Thomas 27,922 35.5
Libertarian Joe Edgar 4,134 5.3
Majority 18,590 23.7
Turnout 78,568
Democratic hold

2010

Texas House of Representatives 48th district, 2010[21]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Donna Howard (Incumbent) 25,023 48.5
Republican Dan Neil 25,011 48.5
Libertarian Ben Easton 1,519 2.9
Majority 12 0.0
Turnout 51,553
Democratic hold

2008

Texas House of Representatives 48th district, 2008[22]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Donna Howard (Incumbent) 39,748 53.7
Republican Pamela Waggoner 31,028 42.0
Libertarian Ben Easton 3,174 4.3
Majority 8,720 11.7
Turnout 73,950
Democratic hold

2006

Texas House of Representatives 48th district, 2006[23]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Donna Howard (Incumbent) 31,255 77.8
Libertarian Ben Easton 8,939 22.2
Majority 22,316 55.6
Turnout 40,194
Democratic hold
Democratic primary for Texas's 48th district, 2006[24]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Donna Howard (Incumbent) 4,133 92.3
Democratic Kathy Rider 229 5.1
Democratic Andy Brown 114 2.5
Turnout 4,476
Texas House of Representatives 48th district, 2006 special election runoff[25]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Donna Howard 12,620 57.6
Republican Ben Bentzin (withdrawn) 9,284 42.4
Majority 3,336 15.2
Turnout 21,904
Democratic gain from Republican
Texas House of Representatives 48th district, 2006 special election[26]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Donna Howard 6,705 49.5
Republican Ben Bentzin 5,125 37.8
Democratic Kathy Rider 1,416 10.4
Libertarian Ben Easton 310 2.3
Turnout 13,556
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Donna Howard.

References

  1. ↑ "Donna Howard Makes Re-election Bid Official on Opening Day of Filing Period". Texas Insider. 28 November 2011. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
  2. ↑ Murphy, Constance (24 July 2010). "AISD seeks volunteers to help dropouts". KXAN. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Rep. Donna Howard Honored with Champion for Nursing Education Award". Texas Insider. 5 February 2010. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
  4. ↑ MacLaggen, Corrie (13 November 2009). "Three vie to win in swing district". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
  5. ↑ Smith, Amy (17 February 2006). "Howard Defeats Bentzin". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
  6. ↑ Nichols, Lee (7 November 2006). "So Much for Those Travis Republican Districts". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
  7. ↑ Whittaker, Richard (4 November 2008). "House Dems Happy". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
  8. ↑ Eaton, Tim (23 November 2010). "Dan Neil seeks recount in House race". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
  9. 1 2 3 Eaton, Tim (22 March 2011). "Rep. Donna Howard addresses House". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
  10. ↑ "2010 General Election official results". Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  11. ↑ "Lovett Award". University of Texas. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
  12. ↑ "The College of Education - Donna Howard". University of Texas. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
  13. ↑ THE 'CHRONICLE' NEWS STAFF. "Odds and Ends from the 86th Lege Session". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  14. ↑ Rapaport, Wes (6 February 2020). "Sexual assault survivors' task force convenes for inaugural meeting". KXAN. KXAN News. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  15. ↑ "2019: The Best and Worst Legislators". Texas Monthly. 2019-06-18. Retrieved 2019-06-19.
  16. ↑ Uncontested primary elections are not shown.
  17. ↑ "2018 General Election TRAVIS". Retrieved 2020-07-02.
  18. ↑ "2016 General Election". Retrieved 2020-07-02.
  19. ↑ "2014 General Election TRAVIS". Retrieved 2020-07-02.
  20. ↑ "2012 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2014-01-09. Retrieved 2013-01-19.
  21. ↑ "2010 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2014-01-09. Retrieved 2012-07-23.
  22. ↑ "2008 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2014-01-09. Retrieved 2012-07-23.
  23. ↑ "2006 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2014-01-09. Retrieved 2012-07-23.
  24. ↑ "2006 Democratic Party Primary Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2014-01-09. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
  25. ↑ "2006 Special Election runoff, State Representative 48". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2014-01-09. Retrieved 2012-07-23.
  26. ↑ "2006 Special Election, State Representative 48". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2014-01-09. Retrieved 2012-07-23.
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