To become a Texas State Senator, you first have to survive campaign season. This involves shaking hands at 6 a.m. rodeos, eating brisket at 50 barbecues, and smiling until your face hurts. You also need a lot of money, which is weird because the job pays about $7,200 a year. Yes, seven thousand. That’s less than a used car.
So how do they afford their own cowboy boots? Many have other jobs—lawyers, ranchers, or business owners. They’re not in it for the riches. They’re in it for the power to change your speed limit, probably.
And the debates? Oh, they get spicy. One senator once compared a tax bill to a “rodeo clown on steroids.” Another called a rival’s argument “silly as a three-legged horse.” You can’t make this up.
TX State Senator Nathan Johnson wants voters to pay attention when
What They Actually Do (Besides Look Good in a Suit)
Let’s get real. A Texas State Senator spends most of their time in committee hearings. They listen to experts, angry citizens, and kids who want to save the turtles. Then they vote on bills about health care, education, and electricity grids that don’t freeze in winter.
They also handle your local problems. Can’t get a stop sign at the intersection? Call your senator. They’ll call the mayor, who’ll call someone with a clipboard. It’s a game of phone tag with democracy.
And yes, they deal with weird stuff. One year, a bill proposed making “crawfish” the official state crustacean. It almost passed, but a senator argued shrimp were more “Texan.” The chaos is real, and I love it.
