Join us for a timely conversation with State Representative Gene Wu, Minority Leader of the Texas House, and State Senator Carol Alvarado, Minority Leader of the Texas Senate. As leaders in their respective chambers, they will discuss the future of the Democratic Party in Texas and the politics and issues shaping the state today.
State Representative Gene Wu, Minority Leader of the Texas House
State Representative Gene Wu proudly serves the people of District 137 in the Texas House. Prior to being elected in 2012, he served as a prosecutor in the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, where he sought justice for thousands of crime victims. Gene is currently an attorney in private practice.
Since being elected State Representative, Gene has maintained a focus on improving the lives of Texas children. Gene has authored numerous pieces of legislation supporting greater justice for juveniles; specifically fighting the school to prison pipeline and passing comprehensive CPS reform. Gene has also been appointed to the Texas Access to Justice Commission, and the Texas State Child Fatality Review Team.
Now in his 7th term, Gene has been appointed Vice Chair of the House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence. He also serves on the House Permanent Standing Subcommittee on Juvenile Justice, the Committee on Redistricting, and on the Appropriations Committee.
Outside his legislative work, Gene remains active and involved in the Houston community. Gene currently serves on community advocacy organization boards such as the OCA-Greater Houston Advisory Board, the Chinese Community Center Advisory Board, and the Baker-Ripley Neighborhood Centers Advisory Committee. As an attorney, Gene serves as a Guardian Ad-Litem representing minors in court in either criminal or CPS cases. Additionally, Gene is passionate in supporting young people becoming active in civic roles, and is proud advocate for the AAPI community across Texas and the nation.
Gene grew up in the Southwest Houston neighborhood of Sharpstown. He earned his Bachelors of Science Degree from Texas A&M University, a Master’s Degree from the LBJ School for Public Affairs at the University of Texas in Austin, and a Law Degree from the South Texas College of Law in Houston.
Gene and his wife, Miya, reside in Southwest Houston. They are the proud parents of two sons, Winston and Lyndon.
State Senator Carol Alvarado, Minority Leader of the Texas Senate
Senator Carol Alvarado is proud to serve Texas Senate District 6 in Harris County and was first elected in a 2018 Special Election.
In 2008, she was elected to the Texas House of Representatives and served five terms representing District 145. She served as the Chair of the Urban Affairs Committee and Co-Chair of the Select Committee on Transparency in State Agency Operations. Now in her fourth term in the Texas Senate, Carol serves on the Senate Committees on Finance, Economic Development, Natural Resources, Nominations and Congressional Redistricting.
Carol also serves as the Chair of the Texas Senate Democratic Caucus. Carol's primary legislative focus has been on economic development, public health and public education. She has championed legislation aimed at strengthening our state's workforce, helping small businesses succeed, creating tools to recruit businesses to relocate to Texas, regulating the use of e-cigarettes for children and criminal justice reform.
Carol is an advocate for women's health and reproductive rights and has passed legislation to assist victims of sexual abuse. She is also a strong advocate for voting rights and ensuring access to the ballot.
As a member of the Houston City Council from 2002-2008, Carol led the effort to make restaurants smoke free, stopped the shipping of more hazardous chemicals through our neighborhoods, and had air quality monitors installed in neighborhoods near chemical plants.
Carol is a native Houstonian and longtime resident of Houston's East End. She holds a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Houston and is a member of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church.