{{Short description|American politician (born 1951)}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Donna Howard | image = DonnaHoward.jpg | state_house = Texas | district = 48th | term_start = March 2, 2006 | preceded = Todd Baxter | succeeded = | office1 = Chair of the Texas House<br/>Women's Health Caucus | term_start1 = January 24, 2020 | preceded1 = Jessica Farrar | succeeded1 = | party = Democratic | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1951|10|25}} | birth_place = Austin, Texas, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | alma_mater = {{ubil|University of Texas at Austin (BA, MA)}} | spouse = Derek Howard | profession = Community advocate<br>Critical care nurse | blank1 = Signature | data1 = 128px | blank2 = Website{{0|00000}} | data2 = {{URL|https://teamhowardtx.com/|Campaign website}} }}
'''Donna Smelser Howard''' (born October 25, 1951) is a Democratic member of the Texas House of Representatives, representing the 48th District since her election in 2006. She currently serves as vice chair of the House Administration Committee and also serves on the Appropriations Committee, the Higher Education Committee, and the Appropriations Sub-Committees on Article III and on Budget Transparency and Reform.
== Early life, education, and early career == Howard was born in Austin, Texas. She graduated from Reagan High School in Austin before moving on to the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned a B.A. in Nursing in 1974 and an M.A. in Health Administration in 1977.<ref name=TexasInsider>{{cite web|title=Donna Howard Makes Re-election Bid Official on Opening Day of Filing Period|url=http://www.texasinsider.org/?p=56003|publisher=Texas Insider|access-date=23 July 2012|date=28 November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Murphy|first=Constance|title=AISD seeks volunteers to help dropouts|url=http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/education/aisd-seeks-volunteers-to-help-dropouts|access-date=23 July 2012|newspaper=KXAN|date=24 July 2010}}</ref>
Howard worked as a critical-care nurse at Brackenrige Hospital and Seton Hospital in Austin.<ref name=TexasInsider2>{{cite web|title=Rep. Donna Howard Honored with Champion for Nursing Education Award|url=http://www.texasinsider.org/?p=21567|publisher=Texas Insider|access-date=23 July 2012|date=5 February 2010}}</ref> While at Seton, she helped start the Good Health program and served as District 5 President of the Texas Nurse's Association.<ref name=TexasInsider2 /> Howard also served on the University of Texas faculty as a Health Education instructor.<ref name=TexasInsider2 />
== Political career == From 1996 to 1999, Howard served on the Eanes Independent School District school board.<ref name=Statesman>{{cite news|last=MacLaggen|first=Corrie|title=Three vie to win in swing district|url=http://www.statesman.com/news/texas-politics/three-vie-to-win-in-swing-district-56909.html?printArticle=y|access-date=23 July 2012|newspaper=Austin American-Statesman|date=13 November 2009}}</ref>
On February 14, 2006, Howard defeated Republican Ben Bentzin in a special election runoff to replace Todd Baxter.<ref>{{cite news|last=Smith|first=Amy|title=Howard Defeats Bentzin|url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2006-02-17/339280/|access-date=23 July 2012|newspaper=Austin Chronicle|date=17 February 2006}}</ref>
In the 2006 general election, Howard was again to face Bentzin, but Bentzin ultimately withdrew from the race, which Howard won by a wide margin.<ref>{{cite news|last=Nichols|first=Lee|title=So Much for Those Travis Republican Districts|url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/blogs/news/2006-11-07/418021/|access-date=23 July 2012|newspaper=Austin Chronicle|date=7 November 2006}}</ref>
Howard retained her seat in 2008, defeating Republican Pamela Waggoner.<ref>{{cite news|last=Whittaker|first=Richard|title=House Dems Happy|url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/blogs/news/2008-11-04/698423/|access-date=23 July 2012|newspaper=Austin Chronicle|date=4 November 2008}}</ref>
In 2009, the Texas Association of Deans and Directors of Professional Nursing Programs honored Howard with its Champion for Nursing Education Award.<ref name=TexasInsider2 />
In 2010, Howard narrowly defeated former Texas Longhorn and Denver Broncos player Dan Neil. On election day, the Secretary of State of Texas certified Howard as the winner by 16 votes.<ref name=2010election>{{cite news|last=Eaton|first=Tim|title=Dan Neil seeks recount in House race|url=http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/politics/entries/2010/11/23/dan_neil_seeks_recount_in_hous.html|access-date=23 July 2012|newspaper=Austin American-Statesman|date=23 November 2010}}</ref> Following a recount requested by Neil, the Secretary of State found Howard to still be the winner, though by only 12 votes.<ref name=Recount2010>{{cite news|last=Eaton|first=Tim|title=Rep. Donna Howard addresses House|url=http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/politics/entries/2011/03/22/rep_donna_howard_addresses_hou.html|access-date=23 July 2012|newspaper=Austin American-Statesman|date=22 March 2011|archive-date=6 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506074545/http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/politics/entries/2011/03/22/rep_donna_howard_addresses_hou.html/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Neil then requested that the election be investigated by the House of Representatives.<ref name=Recount2010 /> After a four-day hearing headed up by Representative Will Hartnett, Howard was found to have won the election by 4 votes and Neil ultimately dropped the contest.<ref name=Recount2010 /> The Secretary of State still reports an official margin of 12 votes.<ref>{{cite web |title=2010 General Election official results |url=https://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist154_state.htm |access-date=3 May 2023}}</ref> Even with the 12 vote victory that the Secretary of State considers official, it is the closest Texas House race on record.
In 2011, Howard was the recipient of the 2011 Dr. Dorothy J. Lovett Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Texas School of Nursing and was inducted in the University of Texas College of Education Hall of Honor.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lovett Award|url=http://www.edb.utexas.edu/steinhardt/lovettaward.html|publisher=University of Texas|access-date=23 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The College of Education − Donna Howard |url=http://www.edb.utexas.edu/education/departments/khe/aboutdept/hoh/howard/ |publisher=University of Texas |access-date=23 July 2012}}</ref>
In 2019, Howard authored H.B. 1590, which created a Sexual Assault Survivors Task Force in the Governor's Office to collect information on agencies' responses to sexual assaults and develop best practices. The bill passed unanimously in the House and Senate and was signed by the Governor.<ref>{{cite web |author=THE 'CHRONICLE' NEWS STAFF |title=Odds and Ends from the 86th Lege Session |url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2019-05-31/odds-and-ends-from-the-86th-lege-session/ |website=The Austin Chronicle |access-date=7 July 2020}}</ref> The Task Force began meeting on February 6, 2020, and is due to deliver a series of reports to the Texas Legislature on November 1, 2020.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rapaport |first1=Wes |title=Sexual assault survivors' task force convenes for inaugural meeting |url=https://www.kxan.com/news/texas-politics/sexual-assault-survivors-task-force/ |website=KXAN |date=6 February 2020 |publisher=KXAN News |access-date=7 July 2020}}</ref>
Texas Monthly named Howard a Best Lawmaker in June 2019 for her work during Texas' 86th Legislative session.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.texasmonthly.com/politics/2019-the-best-and-worst-texas-legislators/|title=2019: The Best and Worst Legislators|date=2019-06-18|website=Texas Monthly|language=en|access-date=2019-06-19}}</ref>
==Electoral history== Election history of Howard.<ref>Uncontested primary elections are not shown.</ref>
===2022=== {{Election box begin no change | title = Texas House of Representatives 48th district, 2022 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = Texas Democratic Party | candidate = Donna Howard (Incumbent) | votes = 64,039 | percentage = 79.6 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Libertarian Party of Texas | candidate = Daniel Jerome Mccarthy | votes = 16,439 | percentage = 20.4 }} {{Election box majority no change | votes = 47,600 | percentage = 59.1 }} {{Election box turnout no change | votes = 80,478 | percentage = 54.6 }} {{Election box hold with party link no change |winner = Texas Democratic Party }} {{Election box end}}
===2020=== {{Election box begin no change | title = Texas House of Representatives 48th district, 2020 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = Texas Democratic Party | candidate = Donna Howard (Incumbent) | votes = 73,590 | percentage = 70.1 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Republican Party of Texas | candidate = Bill Strieber | votes = 31,382 | percentage = 29.9 }} {{Election box majority no change | votes = 42,208 | percentage = 40.2 }} {{Election box turnout no change | votes = 104,972 | percentage = 71.6 }} {{Election box hold with party link no change |winner = Texas Democratic Party }} {{Election box end}}
===2018=== {{Election box begin no change | title = Texas House of Representatives 48th district, 2018<ref>{{cite web|url=https://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist331_state.htm|title=2018 General Election TRAVIS|access-date=2020-07-02}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = Texas Democratic Party | candidate = Donna Howard (Incumbent) | votes = 67,952 | percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box majority no change | votes = 67,952 | percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box turnout no change | votes = 67,952 | percentage = 8.8 }} {{Election box hold with party link no change |winner = Texas Democratic Party }} {{Election box end}}
===2016=== {{Election box begin no change | title = Texas House of Representatives 48th district, 2016<ref>{{cite web|url=https://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist319_state.htm|title=2016 General Election |access-date=2020-07-02}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = Texas Democratic Party | candidate = Donna Howard (Incumbent) | votes = 60,512 | percentage = 79.4 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Libertarian Party of Texas | candidate = Ben Easton | votes = 15,702 | percentage = 20.6 }} {{Election box majority no change | votes = 44,810 | percentage = 58.8 }} {{Election box turnout no change | votes = 76,214 | percentage = 10.5 }} {{Election box hold with party link no change |winner = Texas Democratic Party }} {{Election box end}}
===2014=== {{Election box begin no change | title = Texas House of Representatives 48th district, 2014<ref>{{cite web|url=https://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist175_state.htm|title=2014 General Election TRAVIS|access-date=2020-07-02}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = Texas Democratic Party | candidate = Donna Howard (Incumbent) | votes = 39,668 | percentage = 78.1 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Libertarian Party of Texas | candidate = Ben Easton | votes = 11,126 | percentage = 21.9 }} {{Election box majority no change | votes = 28,542 | percentage = 56.2 }} {{Election box turnout no change | votes = 50,794 | percentage = }} {{Election box hold with party link no change |winner = Texas Democratic Party }} {{Election box end}}
===2012=== {{Election box begin no change | title = Texas House of Representatives 48th district, 2012<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |title=2012 General Election |access-date=2013-01-19 |publisher=Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109062336/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |archive-date=2014-01-09 }}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = Texas Democratic Party | candidate = Donna Howard (Incumbent) | votes = 46,512 | percentage = 59.2 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Republican Party of Texas | candidate = Robert Thomas | votes = 27,922 | percentage = 35.5 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Libertarian Party of Texas | candidate = Joe Edgar | votes = 4,134 | percentage = 5.3 }} {{Election box majority no change | votes = 18,590 | percentage = 23.7 }} {{Election box turnout no change | votes = 78,568 | percentage = }} {{Election box hold with party link no change |winner = Texas Democratic Party }} {{Election box end}}
===2010=== {{Election box begin no change | title = Texas House of Representatives 48th district, 2010<ref name=2010SOS>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |title=2010 General Election |access-date=2012-07-23 |publisher=Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109062336/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |archive-date=2014-01-09 }}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = Texas Democratic Party | candidate = Donna Howard (Incumbent) | votes = 25,023 | percentage = 48.54 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Republican Party of Texas | candidate = Dan Neil | votes = 25,011 | percentage = 48.52 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Libertarian Party of Texas | candidate = Ben Easton | votes = 1,519 | percentage = 2.9 }} {{Election box majority no change | votes = 12 | percentage = 0.02 }} {{Election box turnout no change | votes = 51,553 | percentage = }} {{Election box hold with party link no change |winner = Texas Democratic Party }} {{Election box end}}
===2008=== {{Election box begin no change | title = Texas House of Representatives 48th district, 2008<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |title=2008 General Election |access-date=2012-07-23 |publisher=Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109062336/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |archive-date=2014-01-09 }}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = Texas Democratic Party | candidate = Donna Howard (Incumbent) | votes = 39,748 | percentage = 53.7 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Republican Party of Texas | candidate = Pamela Waggoner | votes = 31,028 | percentage = 42.0 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Libertarian Party of Texas | candidate = Ben Easton | votes = 3,174 | percentage = 4.3 }} {{Election box majority no change | votes = 8,720 | percentage = 11.7 }} {{Election box turnout no change | votes = 73,950 | percentage = }} {{Election box hold with party link no change |winner = Texas Democratic Party }} {{Election box end}}
===2006=== {{Election box begin no change | title = Texas House of Representatives 48th district, 2006<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |title=2006 General Election |access-date=2012-07-23 |publisher=Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109062336/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |archive-date=2014-01-09 }}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = Texas Democratic Party | candidate = Donna Howard (Incumbent) | votes = 31,255 | percentage = 77.8 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Libertarian Party of Texas | candidate = Ben Easton | votes = 8,939 | percentage = 22.2 }} {{Election box majority no change | votes = 22,316 | percentage = 55.6 }} {{Election box turnout no change | votes = 40,194 | percentage = }} {{Election box hold with party link no change |winner = Texas Democratic Party }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change | title = Democratic primary for Texas's 48th district, 2006<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |title=2006 Democratic Party Primary Election |access-date=2012-07-25 |publisher=Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109062336/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |archive-date=2014-01-09 }}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = Texas Democratic Party | candidate = Donna Howard (Incumbent) | votes = 4,133 | percentage = 92.3 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Texas Democratic Party | candidate = Kathy Rider | votes = 229 | percentage = 5.1 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Texas Democratic Party | candidate = Andy Brown | votes = 114 | percentage = 2.5 }} {{Election box turnout no change | votes = 4,476 | percentage = }} {{election box end}} {{Election box begin no change | title = Texas House of Representatives 48th district, 2006 special election runoff<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |title=2006 Special Election runoff, State Representative 48 |access-date=2012-07-23 |publisher=Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109062336/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |archive-date=2014-01-09 }}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = Texas Democratic Party | candidate = Donna Howard | votes = 12,620 | percentage = 57.6 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Republican Party of Texas | candidate = ''Ben Bentzin (withdrawn)'' | votes = 9,284 | percentage = 42.4 }} {{Election box majority no change | votes = 3,336 | percentage = 15.2 }} {{Election box turnout no change | votes = 21,904 | percentage = }} {{Election box gain with party link no change | winner = Texas Democratic Party | loser = Republican Party of Texas }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin no change | title = Texas House of Representatives 48th district, 2006 special election<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |title=2006 Special Election, State Representative 48 |access-date=2012-07-23 |publisher=Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109062336/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |archive-date=2014-01-09 }}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = Texas Democratic Party | candidate = Donna Howard | votes = 6,705 | percentage = 49.5 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = Republican Party of Texas | candidate = Ben Bentzin | votes = 5,125 | percentage = 37.8 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Texas Democratic Party | candidate = Kathy Rider | votes = 1,416 | percentage = 10.4 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Libertarian Party of Texas | candidate = Ben Easton | votes = 310 | percentage = 2.3 }} {{Election box turnout no change | votes = 13,556 | percentage = }} {{Election box end}}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Texas House of Representatives}}
==External links== {{commons category|Donna Howard}} {{Portal|Texas}} * [https://house.texas.gov/members/member-page/?district=48 Donna Howard] Official Texas House website * [http://www.teamhowardtx.com/ Donna Howard] Official website * [http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/59196/donna-howard Project Vote Smart − Representative Donna Howard (TX)] profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Howard, Donna}} Category:University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio alumni Category:1951 births Category:Living people Category:Politicians from Austin, Texas Category:Democratic Party members of the Texas House of Representatives Category:Women state legislators in Texas Category:Nurses from Texas Category:American women nurses Category:21st-century American women politicians Category:21st-century members of the Texas Legislature