Charles Schwertner
Charles Schwertner | |
|---|---|
| President pro tempore of the Texas Senate | |
| In office May 29, 2023 – January 14, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Kelly Hancock |
| Succeeded by | Brandon Creighton |
| Member of the Texas Senate from the 5th district | |
| Assumed office January 8, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Steve Ogden |
| Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 20th district | |
| In office January 11, 2011 – January 8, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Dan Gattis |
| Succeeded by | Marsha Farney |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Charles Jeffrey Schwertner May 29, 1970[1][2] Tuscaloosa, Alabama, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Belinda |
| Education | University of Texas at Austin (BS) University of Texas Medical Branch (MD) |
| Signature | |
| Website | Campaign website |
Charles Jeffrey Schwertner (born May 29, 1970) is an American orthopedic surgeon and politician who has represented the 5th district in the Texas Senate since 2013. A member of the Republican Party, he served as president pro tempore of the Texas Senate from 2023 to 2025 and represented the 20th district in the Texas House of Representatives from 2011 to 2013.
Schwertner serves as chairman of the Senate Committee on Business and Commerce.[3] He is currently a member of the Senate Committees on Education, Finance, State Affairs, and the HHS Transition Legislative Oversight Committee.[4] Schwertner also chairs the Sunset Advisory Commission, a 12-member body of legislators and public members that periodically reviews function and operations of more than 130 state agencies.[5]
Career
Schwertner was first elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 2010.[6] He represented the 20th district in the Texas House from 2011 to 2013.[7] During his first term, he ran for Texas Senate and won the 2012 Texas Senate election with 72 percent of the vote.[8]
Efforts to reform the Texas electric grid
In 2021, Senator Schwertner passed SB 3[9] to substantively reform the Texas power grid[10] in the aftermath of a series of major winter storms that left many Texans without power for several days.[11] These changes included requiring the weatherization of critical power generation, natural gas, and electrical transmission infrastructure;[12] instituting an emergency alert system to notify Texans about extended power outages;[13] and reforming the electric market to increase generation capacity and improve the reliability of the state’s power grid.[14]
Expanding gun-owner rights
In 2021, Senator Schwertner sponsored HB 1927,[15] also known as the "constitutional carry" law. The law allows anyone who can legally own a firearm to carry it – in a holster – in public, for the first time since Reconstruction. HB 1927 doesn't change eligibility for gun ownership; the law still requires that an individual be at least 18 years old and can not have served a sentence for a felony or family violence within the last five years. The law also adds some other misdemeanors to the list for those who want to carry, including assault causing bodily injury, deadly conduct, terroristic threat, and disorderly conduct with a firearm. Texas is now the 20th state to pass a "constitutional carry" law.[16]
Texas bitcoin reserve
In 2025, Schwertner introduced SB 21, a bill creating the Texas Strategic Bitcoin Reserve which allows the State of Texas to purchase digital cryptocurrency as a strategic reserve.[17] After passing the House and the Senate, the bill was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 22, 2025.[18] Following Arizona and New Hampshire, Texas is the third state to enact legislation creating a bitcoin reserve on the state level.[19]
Allegations of lewd texting
On October 8, 2018, the University of Texas at Austin hired Johnny Sutton, a former federal prosecutor, to investigate claims that Schwertner sent sexually-explicit text messages to a female graduate student and whether such harassment could be a violation of Title IX, a federal civil rights law.[20] The University of Texas ultimately concluded its investigation of Schwertner, stating that the “available evidence does not support a finding" that he had violated university policy or Title IX.[21]
Personal life
On February 7, 2023 Schwertner was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated in Austin, Texas, according to Travis County, Texas records.[22]
Election history
2022
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Charles Schwertner (incumbent) | 192,146 | 71.6 | ||
| Libertarian | Tommy Estes | 76,317 | 28.4 | ||
| Total votes | 268,463 | 100.0 | |||
| Republican hold | |||||
2018
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Charles Schwertner (incumbent) | 182,550 | 55.34 | −9.63 | |
| Democratic | Meg Walsh | 136,792 | 41.47 | +10.24 | |
| Libertarian | Amy Lyons | 10,500 | 3.18 | −0.61 | |
| Total votes | 329,842 | 100.0 | |||
| Republican hold | |||||
2014
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Charles Schwertner | 112,930 | 64.97 | −12.16 | |
| Democratic | Joel Shapiro | 54,286 | 31.23 | +31.23 | |
| Libertarian | Matthew Whittington | 6,595 | 3.79 | −19.07 | |
| Turnout | 173,811 | ||||
2012
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Charles J. Schwertner | 182,554 | 77.14 | ||
| Libertarian | Jeffery Fox | 54,107 | 22.86 | ||
| Majority | 128,447 | 54.28 | |||
| Turnout | 236,661 | ||||
| Republican hold | |||||
2010
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Charles J. Schwertner | 44,901 | 82.55 | ||
| Libertarian | David Floyd | 9,490 | 17.45 | ||
| Majority | 35,411 | 65.1 | |||
| Turnout | 54,391 | ||||
| Republican hold | |||||
References
- ^ "State Senator Charles J. Schwertner's Statistics". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved 2013-05-29.
- ^ Jones, Abigail; Ramkissoon, Jaclyn; Winkle, Kate (2023-02-07). "Austin police arrest Texas senator on DWI charge, records show". KXAN Austin. Retrieved 2023-02-19.
- ^ "The Texas State Senate – Senate Committee on Business & Commerce". senate.texas.gov. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
- ^ Services, Texas Senate Media. "The Texas State Senate: District 5". www.schwertner.senate.state.tx.us. Retrieved 2016-10-18.
- ^ "Home | Texas Sunset Advisory Commission". www.sunset.texas.gov. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
- ^ Hu, Elise (2 March 2010). "HD-20: AP Calls it for Schwertner". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
- ^ "Senator Charles J. Schwertner's Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved 2013-05-29.
- ^ Wade, Beth (25 May 2012). "Schwertner claims victory in Senat District 5 race". Austin Community Impact. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
- ^ "Texas Legislature Online - 87(R) History for SB 3". capitol.texas.gov. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
- ^ Douglas, Shawn Mulcahy and Erin (2021-03-29). "Sweeping legislation to overhaul state's electricity market in response to winter storm heads to Texas House after Senate's unanimous approval". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
- ^ Eric Levenson, Travis Caldwell and Amir Vera (18 February 2021). "Texas governor says he is responsible for the status of ERCOT, vows reforms". CNN. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
- ^ Ferman, Erin Douglas and Mitchell (2021-05-27). "Texas Legislature approves bills to require power plants to "weatherize," among other measures to overhaul electric grid". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
- ^ Mekelburg, Madlin. "Texas Senate approves sweeping bill to address power grid failures". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
- ^ Patel, Sonal (2021-06-09). "Texas Governor Enacts Grid Reliability Measures, Including Power Plant Weatherization, ERCOT Reforms". POWER Magazine. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
- ^ "Texas Legislature Online - 87(R) History for HB 1927". capitol.texas.gov. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
- ^ Martin, Florian (2021-08-24). "Permitless Carry Becomes Legal In Texas Next Week. Here's What You Need To Know". Houston Public Media. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
- ^ Rouner, Jef (17 January 2025). "Bill to Create Texas Bitcoin Reserve Filed Despite Risks". Reform Austin. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
- ^ Williams, Zach (22 June 2025). "Texas Gov. Abbott Signs Bill to Create State Bitcoin Reserve". Bloomberg Government. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
- ^ Tsiaperas, Tasha; Dale, Brady (28 May 2025). "Strategic bitcoin reserve bill clears hurdle in Texas Legislature". Axios. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
- ^ Walsh, Sean (October 8, 2018). "Confirmed: University of Texas investigating if Sen. Charles Schwertner sent lewd image". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
- ^ Najmabadi, Shannon (2018-12-18). "UT-Austin says evidence "does not support a finding" that Charles Schwertner violated Title IX by sending lewd texts". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
- ^ Seipp, Skye and Tony Plohetski. Georgetown senator Charles Schwertner arrested for DWI Tuesday morning, Austin American-Statesman, February 7, 2023.
- ^ Astudillo, Carla (7 November 2022). "Election results: How Texas voted in the November 2022 midterms". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
- ^ "Race Summary Report - 2014 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State. 2014-11-04.
- ^ "2012 General Election Results". followthemoney.org. Archived from the original on 2014-05-16. Retrieved 2013-05-29.
- ^ "2010 General Election Results". followthemoney.org. Archived from the original on 2012-11-17. Retrieved 2013-05-29.