All Eyes on State Rep. Shawn Thierry and Why She Is One of the Most Popular Democrats in Texas
By Misty Starks and Holly Charles
In the eyes of some veteran politicians, Texas State Representative Shawn Thierry (D-Houston) is deemed a newbie to their elite club. But, if you’ve been paying close attention, this sophomore legislator has made waves and strides in the Texas legislature and is steadily garnering the attention of national media and political pundits. Recently, Thierry received a special nod from at least one 2020 candidate for POTUS. United States Senator Elizabeth Warren’s political camp has tapped Thierry to moderate the presidential contender’s town hall in Houston on July 5th, hosted at Warren’s alma mater, the University of Houston.
After winning a competitive Democratic nomination for House District 146, Thierry quickly became a hometown favorite. Following the devastation of Hurricane Harvey, she hosted her own town hall to provide constituents with access to local and federal funding mechanisms and was often seen in underserved communities giving away clothing, canned goods, diapers, and other necessities.
Thierry is the first and only woman to ever win and hold the House seat in the diverse District 146, encompassing Southeast/Southwest Houston. The heavily Democratic district includes popular landmarks such as NRG stadium and parts of Houston’s renowned medical center. Born and raised in her district, the Howard University and Thurgood Marshall School of Law alumnus, does not view becoming the “first” as a limitation on potential progress. Why should she? She is the daughter of the first black teacher to integrate a suburban junior high school in Houston in the 1960s. A decade later, Thierry was the first, and only, black child in her elementary school to be placed in an advanced reading class, an accomplishment which prompted her teacher to retire from the public school system.
“I can still remember my first grade teacher telling me that even though I could read at the top level she would not place me in the advanced reading group because a ‘colored’ child had never been in the advanced group and she was not about to change because of me,” Thierry recounts. While the painful memory could have deterred a vulnerable six-year-old, Thierry says it helped her learn how to fight.
Fast forward to 2017, while still in her first term, the fearless freshman legislator raised statewide and national attention to the maternal mortality health care crisis. When Thierry learned of a shocking statistic, that African American women in Texas are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related deaths than all other women, she drafted legislation to tackle the issue and relentlessly began raising awareness of the crisis. It was Thierry who took the lead and boldly penned a letter to Governor Gregg Abbott, requesting that he add the issue to the special session. Her urgent plea to save the lives of expectant mothers was granted, and Thierry became a proud author of the legislation which was signed into law to combat the maternal mortality endemic. During the most recent legislative session, Thierry could frequently be seen walking the halls of the Texas capitol building carrying stacks of impressive bill binders focused on the forgotten — women, poor, elderly, children and minorities. Whether friend or competitor, most agree that Rep. Thierry’s record is proof of her commitment to protecting the interests of underserved individuals and communities.
Rooted in her family’s activism during the civil rights era, and armed with legal acumen, Thierry is unafraid to call out law enforcement for the racial disparities she says are becoming all to frequent during encounters with African Americans. She questioned whether the de-escalation technique training for law enforcement is being implemented and called for a legislative inquiry into the recent death of an unarmed, Texas woman who was shot in Baytown by a police office multiple times within seconds. Thierry says police brutality and the disparities in how African Americans are handled by law enforcement (in comparison to Anglo Americans) is going to be the “issue of our time” and must be addressed nationwide.
In a crowded field of both senior and rookie Texas politicians, the name ‘Shawn Thierry’, or ‘Rep. Thierry” stands out from the pack. Whether it’s leading the charge for improved maternal health care or confronting racial inequities, Thierry’s work, and her work ethic, are becoming the talk of H-Town and beyond. For now, her efforts are also worthy of national recognition, as far as Elizabeth Warren is concerned. The senator has incorporated the issue of reducing the maternal mortality rates for African American women into her presidential platform. Thierry will also be introducing Senator Warren at her town hall on Friday evening.
When asked if she is ready to elevate her profile and career to the next level, the successful lawyer and single mother of a six-year-old daughter modestly replies, “For me, it’s always people over politics. My purpose is simply to utilize my legislative platform to be a strong voice for District 146, and to advocate for the voices that often go unheard. I also hope that my presence in the political arena serves as inspiration to other young women that they too deserve a seat in the room. It’s hard, but collectively, we make a difference.
See both Warren and Thierry in action this weekend by registering for the town hall at www.elizabethwarren.com. The event is free to the public.
