Joe Moody (politician)
Joseph Edward Moody (born January 9, 1981) is a lawyer from El Paso, Texas, who was Speaker Pro Tempore of the Texas House of Representatives.[1] He has represented District 78, based entirely in El Paso County, since 2013. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Moody previously represented District 78 for the single term from 2009 to 2011. In 2012, he unseated the Republican Dee Margo, Mayor of El Paso from 2017 to 2021.
Joe Moody | |
|---|---|
| Speaker pro tempore of the Texas House of Representatives | |
| In office January 8, 2019 – July 15, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Dennis Bonnen |
| Succeeded by | Charlie Geren |
| Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 78th district | |
| Assumed office January 8, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Dee Margo |
| In office January 13, 2009 – January 11, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Pat Haggerty |
| Succeeded by | Dee Margo |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Joseph Edward Moody January 9, 1981 El Paso, Texas, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Adrianne Moody |
| Education | New Mexico State University, Las Cruces (BA) Texas Tech University, Lubbock (JD) |
Moody defeated Margo in the general elections of both 2008 and 2012, but Margo prevailed in the 2010 contest, with lowered turnout in a mid-term election.[2]
Moody won his fifth nonconsecutive term in the House in the general election held on November 6, 2018. With 31,361 votes (65.2 percent) and buoyed by the U.S. Senate candidacy of Beto O'Rourke, also an El Paso native, Moody overwhelmed the Republican candidate, Jeffrey Lane, who finished with 16,741 votes (34.8 percent).[3]
After Moody and other Democrats left the state in protest of Republican legislation on July 12, 2021, Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan removed Moody from the Speaker Pro Tempore position in the 87th Legislature on July 15.[4][5]
References
- Bonnen, Dennis. Standing Committee Appointments by Committee, Texas House of Representatives, January 23, 2019.
- Torres, Zahira (November 7, 2012). "Democrat Joe Moody edges Republican Dee Margo for District 78 House seat". El Paso Times. Archived from the original on 22 November 2013. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
- "Election Returns". Texas Secretary of State. November 6, 2018. Archived from the original on November 8, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
- Barragán, James. El Paso Democrat Joe Moody stripped of leadership position in Texas House after leaving state with Democrats, Texas Tribune, July 15, 2021.
- Garrett, Robert T. Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan strips absent Democratic ally of chamber’s No. 2 post, Dallas Morning News, July 15, 2021.
