Jeff Wentworth
Member of the Texas Senate
from the 25th district
In office
1997–2013
Preceded byWilliam "Bill" Sims
Succeeded byDonna Campbell
Member of the Texas Senate
from the 26th district
In office
1993–1997
Preceded byCyndi Taylor Krier
Succeeded byGregory Luna
State Representative from Texas District 123 (Bexar County)
In office
May 11, 1988 – January 12, 1993
Preceded byKae T. Patrick
Succeeded byFrank J. Corte Jr.
Personal details
Born
Earl Jeffrey Wentworth

(1940-11-20) November 20, 1940
Mercedes, Hidalgo County, Texas, USA
Political partyRepublican
SpouseKarleen Rae "Karla" L. Wentworth
Children2
Residence(s)San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Alma materTexas A&M University
Texas Tech University
ProfessionAttorney

Earl Jeffrey Wentworth (born November 20, 1940) is a Republican former member of the Texas Senate from San Antonio. He represented District 25 in the upper legislative chamber from January 1997 to January 2013. In addition, from 1993 to 1997, he represented District 26, having been initially elected to the state senate in 1992 to succeed fellow Republican Cyndi Taylor Krier, when she became the county judge of Bexar County. District 25 included northern portions of Bexar County, all of Comal, Guadalupe, Hays, and Kendall counties, and a part of southern Travis County.[1][2]

From 1988 to 1993, Wentworth was a member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 123. He won a special election on May 7, 1988, called when Republican Representative Kae T. Patrick of San Antonio resigned during his fourth term.

In 2010, Wentworth wrote to Chairman Ron Blatchley (Chairman of the Texas State University System Board of Regents) a scathing letter from a sitting State Senator expressing his unhappiness with the Texas State University System Board of Regents decision to appoint State Rep. Brian McCall as the Chancellor of the Texas State University System over him. In the letter, Wentworth expressed a strong disagreement with McCall's appointment and repeatedly states that he authored the bill that changed the name of Southwest Texas State University (SWT) to Texas State University-San Marcos (TSU-SM) - an unpopular bill among the vast majority of SWT alumni with suggestions throughout he expected this appointment in part due to carrying this legislation, having it killed in one sub-committee, re-introducing the bill in a rush before another unrelated sub-committee to finally get it passed. Opposition to the bill was not limited to SWT alumni but also included dozens and dozens of Texas Southern University (TSU) faculty, students and alumni aligned with SWT alumni.[3]

In 2012, Wentworth was defeated in his bid for re-nomination. In the Republican primary runoff held on July 31, he lost to Tea Party candidate Donna Campbell, who amassed 45,292 votes (66.2 percent) to Wentworth's 23,168 (33.8 percent).[4]

Wentworth and his wife Karla, a licensed professional interior designer, have two sons, Jason and Matthew Wentworth. After his term in the state Senate, Wentworth was appointed to the position of Precinct 3 justice of the peace by the Bexar County Commission.[5][6]

Election history

Senate election history of Wentworth.[7]

2012

Republican primary, 2012: Senate District 25[8]
Candidate Votes  % ±
✓ Donna Campbell 45,292 66.15%
Jeff Wentworth (Incumbent) 23,168 33.84%
Majority
Turnout 68,460

2010

Texas general election, 2010: Senate District 25[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Jeff Wentworth (Incumbent) 192,965 82.17 not reported
Libertarian Arthur Maxwell Thomas, IV 40,972 17.44 not reported
Independent Eric R. Anderson 885 0.37 not reported
Democratic No candidate on ballot 0 0 not reported
Turnout 234,822 not reported not reported

2006

Texas general election, 2006: Senate District 25[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Jeff Wentworth (Incumbent) 132,872 58.32 -8.41
Democratic Kathleen "Kathi" Thomas 84,816 37.23 +7.03
Libertarian James R. "Bob" Thompson 10,137 4.45 +1.38
Majority 48,056 21.09 -15.45
Turnout 227,825 +11.14
Republican hold

2002

Texas general election, 2002: Senate District 25[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Jeff Wentworth (Incumbent) 136,802 66.73 -20.70
Democratic Joseph "Joe" P. Sullivan 61,899 30.20 +17.63
Libertarian Rex Black 6,293 3.07 +3.07
Majority 74,903 36.54 -38.32
Turnout 204,994 -36.86
Republican hold
Republican primary, 2002: Senate District 25[12]
Candidate Votes  % ±
John H. Shields 25,265 48.83
✓ Jeff Wentworth (Incumbent) 26,481 51.17
Majority 1,216 2.35
Turnout 51,746

2000

Texas general election, 2000: Senate District 25[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Jeff Wentworth (Incumbent) 283,857 87.43 -12.57
Libertarian George Meeks 40,806 12.57 +12.57
Majority 243,051 74.86 -25.14
Turnout 324,663 +45.11
Republican hold

1996

Texas general election, 1996: Senate District 25[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Jeff Wentworth (Incumbent) 223,739 100.00 +24.97
Majority 223,739 100.00 +46.58
Turnout 223,739 +5.10
Republican hold
Republican primary, 1996: Senate District 25[15]
Candidate Votes  % ±
Randy Staudt 24,930 29.54
✓ Jeff Wentworth (Incumbent) 59,476 70.46
Majority 34,546 40.93
Turnout 84,406

1994

Texas general election, 1994: Senate District 25[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Jim Saunders 53,152 24.97 -26.78
Republican Jeff Wentworth (Incumbent)[17] 159,729 75.03 +26.78
Majority 106,577 50.06 +46.58
Turnout
Republican gain from Democratic
Republican primary, 1994: Senate District 25[18]
Candidate Votes  % ±
Van Archer 21,341 39.66
✓ Jeff Wentworth (Incumbent) 32,473 60.34
Majority 11,132 20.69
Turnout 53,814

1992

Texas general election, 1992: Senate District 26[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Carlos Higgins 73,303 33.40
Republican Jeff Wentworth 146,159 66.60
Majority 72,856 33.20
Turnout 219,462
Republican hold
Republican primary runoff, 1992: Senate District 26[20]
Candidate Votes  % ±
Alan Schoolcraft 10,388 47.30 [21]+12.59
✓ Jeff Wentworth 11,574 52.70 +18.98
Majority 1,186 5.40
Turnout 21,962
Republican primary, 1992: Senate District 26[22]
Candidate Votes  % ±
Jim Canady 1,547 3.71
John Fisher 7,222 17.30
George Boyd Pierce 4,407 10.56
✓ Alan Schoolcraft 14,490 34.71
✓ Jeff Wentworth 14,076 33.72
Turnout 41,742

References

  1. ↑ "Earl Jeffrey Wentworth". Texas State Cemetery. Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2007-01-03.
  2. ↑ Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) (2002-09-13). "State Senate Candidates for 2002 General Election". Archived from the original on 2008-02-13. Retrieved 2006-12-27.
  3. ↑ Wentworth's Letter, static.texastribune.org. Accessed May 24, 2023.
  4. ↑ Ward, Mike (1 August 2012). "Campbell ousts Texas Senate veteran Wentworth". Austin American-Statesman. Archived from the original on 4 August 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
  5. ↑ San Antonio Express-News, November 21, 2012
  6. ↑ Karen Olsson (November 2002). "Mr. Right". Texas Monthly. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  7. ↑ Uncontested primary elections are not shown.
  8. ↑ "2012 Republican Party Primary Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Retrieved 2012-08-01.
  9. ↑ "2010 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2011-02-02.
  10. ↑ "2006 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2007-01-04.
  11. ↑ "2002 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2007-01-04.
  12. ↑ "2002 Republican Party Primary Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2007-01-04.
  13. ↑ "2000 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2007-01-04.
  14. ↑ "1996 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2007-01-04.
  15. ↑ "1996 Republican Party Primary Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2007-01-04.
  16. ↑ "1994 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2007-01-04.
  17. ↑ Wentworth was the District 26 incumbent prior to the 1994 Senate redistricting.
  18. ↑ "1994 Republican Party Primary Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2007-01-04.
  19. ↑ "1992 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2007-01-05.
  20. ↑ "1992 Republican Party Primary Runoff Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2007-01-05.
  21. ↑ Change from primary election
  22. ↑ "1992 Republican Party Primary Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2007-01-05.
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