Paul Bettencourt
Texas State Senator, District 7 since 2014. Next on the ballot in 2028.
- In office
- 12 yrs
- Since 2014
- Bills became law
- 80
- 255 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 0.0%
- Chamber median 0.0%
- With party
- 100%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +45.5
- Won 2014
- Next election
- 2028
- Nov 7, 2028
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Civil Discourse and Freedom of Speech in Higher Education Select · chair
- Education · vice chair
- Higher Education · chair
- Local Government · chair
- Disaster Preparedness and Flooding Select
- Finance
- State Affairs
- Transportation
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Agriculture (I0020) · Became law Apr 2026
ATTORNEY GENERAL (V2811) · Became law Sep 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL (V2811) · Became law Sep 2025
Disaster Preparedness & Relief (I0211) · Became law Sep 2025
CRIME VICTIMS (S0046) · Became law Sep 2025
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Bettencourt sits in the Texas State Senate
Bettencourt is closer to the center than 12% of the chamber's Republicans.
Closest: Joan Huffman, Adam Hinojosa, Bryan Hughes
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 5:04 PM ET
With Bettencourt’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Republicans100%
- Cosponsorships of the other party's bills31%
Black tick: the average of Republicans in the Texas State Senate.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Bettencourt’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Republicans.
| Date | Bill | Bettencourt | Rep. majority | Dem. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 4, 2025 | HB 18: Relating to a restriction on the acceptance of political contributions and the making of… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 18–8 |
| Sep 3, 2025 | HB 7: Relating to prohibitions on the manufacture and provision of abortion-inducing drugs,… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 17–8 |
| Sep 3, 2025 | SB 8: Relating to the designation and use of certain spaces and facilities according to sex;… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 18–8 |
| Aug 27, 2025 | HB 26: Relating to contracting with law enforcement agencies in certain counties. | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 21–5 |
| Aug 27, 2025 | HB 8: Relating to public school accountability and transparency, including the implementation of… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 21–5 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Bettencourt was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Elections
Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Texas State Senate, District 7 | Won | — |
| 2014 | Texas State Senate, District 7 | Won | R+45.5 |
Source: 99chambers results archive
Seats Bettencourt has held
- Texas State Senate, District 7 · since 2022
- Texas State Senate, District 7 · since 2014
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Bettencourt has run against
- Jim Davis (D) · 2014 general, won
Source: 99chambers results archive
How we know Bettencourt
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/a9f861bf-1a13-4d3b-816a-69589e9b25e7
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET