DALLAS — Two Asian American women, incumbent Republican longtime State Rep. Angie Chen Button and Democratic challenger Averie Bishop, face off in one of the state’s most competitive statehouse races this cycle.
Button, R-Richardson, was declared the winner over Bishop Tuesday night.
Button, who’s served eight terms as the only Asian American woman in the state Legislature faced a challenge from Democratic challenger and newcomer Bishop, 28, to represent Texas House District 112. The district encompasses parts of Richardson, Garland. Rowlett, Sachse and Dallas.
Button immigrated to Texas from Taiwan. She received her Master of Science in Management and Administrative Sciences degree from UT Dallas and worked at Texas Instruments for 35 years before she won her seat in the Texas Legislature in 2008.
Button was the first woman to chair several state House committees. She has close ties to Gov. Greg Abbott and supported his school voucher plan, but was among the legislators who voted to impeach Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Bishop’s mother moved her family from the Philippines to Texas. She attended law school at SMU and became the first Asian American woman to be crowned Miss Texas in 2022. She currently works for an IT consultancy firm.
During her time as Miss Texas, Bishop made national headlines, including in the Washington Post, for her being outspoken in support of abortion rights, calling for more to be done after the Uvalde school shooting, and more.
The winner of this race will be the only Asian woman in the Texas Legislature and one of six members to ever serve in the 150-member Texas House, according to the Texas Tribune.
