Rodríguez elected Sen. Democratic Caucus chair

Texas Sen. José Rodríguez, D-El Paso, has been elected chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus, the senator announced Monday.

Through rule changes and increasing conservatism among Republicans, the power of the caucus has been declining. But a political observer said that Rodríguez is the right man to lead the caucus as it tries to make itself heard inside and outside the Senate Chamber.

“I think he’s a great choice,” said University of Houston political scientist Brandon Rottinghaus. “I think if used properly, this could be an engine for growth.”

Rodríguez, 67, will succeed Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, as chairman.

In his new role, Rodríguez will lead the effort to shape legislative strategy for Senate Democrats. Leading any legislative caucus can be a difficult job because its members are beholden primarily to their constituents, not their colleagues or their chairman.

Rodríguez acknowledged that there are frequent differences of opinion. For example, Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr., D-Brownsville, has voted for anti-abortion legislation that many of his colleagues find highly objectionable.

Rodríguez said Democrats need to accept diversity of opinion and come up with an agenda anyway.

“I think as Democrats, we have to be forceful and strong on the matters that are important to our constituents and to Texans across the state,” he said.

Among the issues he plans to push are public education, gay rights and “common-sense” gun control.

He’ll be pursuing that agenda in a chamber that’s not exactly receptive to parts of it.

With the loss of former Sen. Wendy Davis, Democrats’ numbers for the 2015 session dropped to 11 of the 31 senators.

Also, incoming Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a tea party favorite, pushed through a rule that cut the number of signatures needed to bring a bill to the floor from 21 to 19. That means Democrats alone don’t have the votes to block bills they don’t like.

In the 2015 session, Democrats worked with Sen. Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler, to block bills that would have required cities to enforce immigration law and ended the Texas Dream Act – a program that allows undocumented immigrants who have been in Texas schools for three years get in-state tuition at Texas universities.

Eltife announced his retirement and two House Republicans – each more conservative than Eltife – are vying for his seat.

“Eltife was a big loss to us,” Rodríguez said. “He was a conservative, but he was willing to work across the aisle.”

Now, Rottinghaus said, Rodríguez will have to find someone else. He noted, however, that there are several Republicans who might support continuation of the Texas Dream Act, which also enjoys the support of the Texas Association of Business.

In addition, there are issues such as criminal-justice reform, marijuana liberalization and regulation of payday lending on which some tea party senators have found common cause with the most liberal Democrats in the chamber.

Rottinghaus said that Rodríguez’s combative style will help him in his new post. The El Paso senator frequently attends hearings of committees on which he is not a member to decry what he sees as wrongheaded legislation.

“I think they need more of a pugilist,” Rottinghaus said of the Democratic Caucus.

Also, as a Latino, Rodríguez is representative of a party that in Texas is increasingly made up of minorities.

“The party will look like him in 10 years,” Rottinghaus said. “Nothing against Sen. Watson, but the party doesn’t look like him anymore.”

Rodríguez, the son of migrant farm workers, was born in Alice, Texas. He was elected in 2010 to represent El Paso, Hudspeth, Culberson, Jeff Davis and Presidio counties. Prior to that, he was El Paso county attorney.

“Throughout his life of service, José has shown that we must all defend our neighbors, protect the vulnerable, and do right by Texans,” Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa said in a statement. “He’s led by example. There is no doubt in my mind that Sen. Rodríguez is ready to take on the challenge of Senate Democratic Chair.”

Marty Schladen may be reached at 512-479-6606; [email protected]; @martyschladen on Twitter.