Morgan LaMantia
LaMantia in 2023
Member of the Texas Senate from the 27th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 10, 2023
Preceded by	Eddie Lucio
Personal details
Born	(1986-12-09) December 9, 1986 (age 37) McAllen, Texas, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Residence(s)	Palm Valley, Texas, U.S.
Alma mater	University of Texas, Austin ( BA) St. Mary's University ( JD)
Occupation	Attorney
Website	https://www.senate.texas.gov/member.php?d=27

Morgan Jessica LaMantia ^[1] (born December 9, 1986) ^[2] is a Texas state elected official and attorney serving as a member of the Texas Senate representing district 27.

A Rio Grande Valley native and sixth-generation Texan, State Senator Morgan LaMantia (D – Palm Valley) was elected to the Texas Senate in 2022. As the first female to represent Senate District 27, she proudly serves South Texas and the Coastal Bend, encompassing Bee, San Patricio, Kleberg, Kenedy, Willacy, Cameron, and portions of Nueces and Hidalgo counties.

After earning her bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Austin and her law degree from St. Mary's University School of Law, Senator LaMantia returned to the Rio Grande Valley, where she worked as an associate attorney at Atlas, Hall & Rodriguez, LLP. She soon went on to work in data analytics for her family business, L&F Distributors, where she currently serves as In-House Counsel. Her achievements at L&F include revamping the company’s healthcare plan for over 1,200 employees and promptly resolving supply chain and safety equipment issues that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic.

As an active member of her community, Senator LaMantia has served on the boards of the Stars Scholarship Fund, the Gladys Porter Zoo, and the Museum of South Texas History. By building opportunities through hard work, giving back, and paying it forward, she seeks to carry on the legacy of her grandfather, Joe LaMantia Jr., who inspired her journey in public service.

Senator LaMantia is a member of the distinguished Senate Committees on Education, Health & Human Services, Nominations, and State Affairs, which headline debate on the legislature's most contentious topics and impactful issues. In her first term as a Senator, she used her position to expand opportunities for the Texas workforce, increase access to affordable healthcare, support public school students and teachers, deliver funding for rural areas, and much more.

Her advocacy and accomplishments have earned Senator LaMantia numerous awards that coincide with her principles centered around hard work, trustworthiness, and collaboration. She attributes the successes of her first session to her South Texas upbringing, real-life work experience, and the dedication of her esteemed colleagues, fantastic team, and valued community leaders and supporters.

In her free time, Senator LaMantia enjoys spending time with her loving family and her five dogs, Cain, Daisy, Gibbs, Smokey, and Sushi. ^[3]

Elections

2022

On November 22, 2021, LaMantia filed to run for the Texas Senate for District 27. ^[4] LaMantia ran in a crowded field that included State Representative Alex Dominguez and lawyer Sara Stapleton-Berrera. LaMantia and Stapleton-Berrera advanced to a runoff in which LaMantia defeated Stapleton-Berrera.

The 27th district was the only competitive district in the 2022 elections. ^[5] LaMantia faced Republican Adam Hinojosa in the general election. She defeated Hinojosa by 659 votes, prompting Hinojosa to request a recount. ^[6] Following the recount, LaMantia's lead expanded an additional 18 votes and Hinojosa conceded. ^[7]

Tenure

Senate Committee Assignments

• Education: 2023 - Present
• Health and Human Services: 2023 - Present
• Nominations: 2023 - Present
• State Affairs: 2023 - Present

Political Impact

88th Legislature

In her first session as a member of the Texas Senate, Senator LaMantia passed 31 bills into law and was one of only four Senators to avoid a veto from Governor Abbott. She did not hesitate to reach across the aisle to find solutions, and by sticking to her principles centered around good faith, she quickly gained the trust and respect of her colleagues. By the end of the legislative session, she had earned a reputation for being trustworthy, and her willingness to work with all parties for the good of the people certainly contributed to her accomplishments.

The bills passed by Senator LaMantia touched on a wide array of topics, including K-12 and Higher Education, Health Care, Child Care, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Border Security, Flood Infrastructure, Scholarship Funding, Rural Economic Development, Safety for UIL Officials, Criminal Justice, Charitable Fund Raising, Contracting Authority and Protections, Wildlife, Insurance, and State Agency Efficiency.

Senator LaMantia worked closely with state agencies to pass priority legislation for the Department of Public Safety (DPS), Health & Human Services (HHS), Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), and Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA).

Senator LaMantia’s tireless work in committee and on the Senate floor was recognized by organizations across Texas. As a strong advocate for public education, she received the Public Education Champion Award from Raise Your Hand Texas (RYHT) ^[8]. As a proponent of infrastructure and economic development, she received the Champion of Infrastructure Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC).

Additionally, she notably passed Senate Bill 2193 ^[9], which established a pilot program to expand healthcare access for uninsured, working Texans. This bill allows small businesses to provide affordable primary care to employees by partnering with Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC).

Her commitment to understanding the importance of every concern and the individual attention she places on every issue has caught the attention of industry leaders in multiple fields. Not only is she eager to work with others, others are eager to work with her.

Personal Life

LaMantia lives in Palm Valley.

References