Joe Straus
Joseph Richard Straus III (born September 1, 1959) is an American politician who served as the speaker of the Texas House of Representatives from 2009 to 2019. A Republican, he represented District 121, which comprises northeastern Bexar County, including parts of San Antonio and several surrounding communities, from his first election to the House in 2005 until his retirement in 2019. He chose not to seek re-election to the state House in 2018.
Joe Straus | |
|---|---|
| Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives | |
| In office January 13, 2009 – January 8, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Tom Craddick |
| Succeeded by | Dennis Bonnen |
| Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 121st district | |
| In office February 10, 2005 – January 8, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Elizabeth Ames Jones |
| Succeeded by | Steve Allison |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Joseph Richard Straus III September 1, 1959 San Antonio, Texas, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Julie Brink |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Vanderbilt University (BA) |
| Signature | |
During his career in the state House, Straus was a moderate, "business-friendly, country club Republican" who sometimes clashed with the party's social conservative wing. Toward the end of his five terms as speaker, Straus faced opposition from more conservative factions within the Texas Republican Party, led by Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, who regarded Straus as insufficiently conservative, and another conservative group that spent millions of dollars in attempts to defeat Straus and allied state legislators in Republican primary elections.