Lizzie Pannill Fletcher (born February 13, 1979) is an American attorney and Democratic politician serving as the U.S. representative for Texas's 7th congressional district since 2019. The district, which includes parts of western Houston and the surrounding suburbs, was previously represented by Republican John Culberson.
Early life and education
- Born in Houston, Texas, to parents Erin Pannill and Al Fletcher.
- Attended St. Thomas Episcopal School in Houston.
- Earned a Bachelor of Arts in History, magna cum laude, from the University of Texas at Austin in 2001.
- Received a Juris Doctor from the University of Texas School of Law in 2004.
Legal career
- Served as an associate and later a partner at the Houston law firm Baker Botts LLP, focusing on corporate, securities, and finance matters.
- Held the position of chief of staff to then-U.S. Representative Gene Green from 2005 to 2011, gaining experience in legislative affairs.
- Worked as a senior associate at the law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP.
Political career
- Ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2018 after incumbent John Culberson announced his retirement.
- Won the Democratic primary with a plurality of votes and subsequently defeated Culberson in the general election, flipping the seat Democratic for the first time since 1977.
- Re-elected in 2020 and 2022, maintaining a moderate-to-liberal voting record.
Committee assignments (118th Congress)
- Committee on Appropriations
- Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development
- Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government
- Committee on the Budget
Caucus memberships
- New Democrat Coalition
- Congressional Arts Caucus
- Congressional Progressive Caucus (associate member)
Legislative focus and policy positions
- Advocates for infrastructure investment, renewable energy development, and health care access.
- Supports gun safety measures, including universal background checks.
- Emphasizes education funding, particularly for public schools and early childhood programs.
- Has voted in favor of legislation protecting voting rights and expanding Medicaid.
Personal life
- Married to Jason Fletcher, a Houston-based attorney; the couple has three children.
- Resides in the West University Place area of Houston.
- Active in community service, including involvement with local nonprofit organizations focused on education and health.
Electoral history (selected)
- 2018 U.S. House, TX-7: Fletcher (D) – 51.4%; Culberson (R) – 48.6%
- 2020 U.S. House, TX-7: Fletcher (D) – 54.0%; Republican opponent – 46.0%
- 2022 U.S. House, TX-7: Fletcher (D) – 56.1%; Republican opponent – 43.9%
References
- United States House of Representatives official biography.
- Federal Election Commission (FEC) campaign finance reports.
- Congressional Record and voting databases.
- News coverage from reputable outlets such as The Houston Chronicle, The New York Times, and Politico.
