{{short description|American politician (born 1940)}} {{Infobox officeholder | image = <!-- only free-content images are allowed for depicting living people - see [[WP:NONFREE]] --> | name = Jeff Wentworth | state_senate = Texas | district = [[Texas Senate, District 25|25th]] | term_start = 1997 | term_end = 2013 | preceded = William "Bill" Sims | succeeded = [[Donna Campbell]] | state_senate2 = Texas | district2 = [[Texas Senate, District 26|26th]] | term_start2 = 1993 | term_end2 = 1997 | preceded2 = [[Cyndi Taylor Krier]] | succeeded2 = [[Gregory Luna]] | office3 = [[Texas House of Representatives|State Representative from Texas District 123 (Bexar County)]] | term_start3 = May 11, 1988 | term_end3 = January 12, 1993 | preceded3 = [[Kae T. Patrick]] | succeeded3 = [[Frank Corte Jr.|Frank J. Corte Jr.]] | party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1940|11|20}} | birth_place = [[Mercedes, Texas]], U.S. | birth_name = Earl Jeffrey Wentworth | death_date = | death_place = | spouse = Karleen Rae "Karla" L. Wentworth | children = 2 | alma_mater = [[Texas A&M University]]<br> [[Texas Tech University]] | occupation = | profession = [[Attorney at law (United States)|Attorney]] }}
'''Earl Jeffrey Wentworth''' (born November 20, 1940) is a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] former member of the [[Texas Senate]] from [[San Antonio, Texas|San Antonio]]. He represented [[Texas Senate, District 25|District 25]] in the upper legislative chamber from January 1997 to January 2013. In addition, from 1993 to 1997, he represented [[Texas Senate, District 26|District 26]], having been initially elected to the state senate in 1992 to succeed fellow Republican [[Cyndi Taylor Krier]], when she became the [[county judge]] of [[Bexar County, Texas|Bexar County]]. [[Texas Senate, District 25|District 25]] included northern portions of Bexar County, all of [[Comal County, Texas|Comal]], [[Guadalupe County, Texas|Guadalupe]], [[Hays County, Texas|Hays]], and [[Kendall County, Texas|Kendall]] counties, and a part of southern [[Travis County, Texas|Travis County]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cemetery.state.tx.us/pub/user_form22.asp?step=1&pers_id=7155|title=Earl Jeffrey Wentworth|accessdate=2007-01-03|publisher=Texas State Cemetery|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606042836/http://www.cemetery.state.tx.us/pub/user_form22.asp?step=1&pers_id=7155|archive-date=2011-06-06|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/candidates/general/senate/senateaddr.shtml|title=State Senate Candidates for 2002 General Election|accessdate=2006-12-27|date=2002-09-13|author=Office of the Secretary of State (Texas)|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080213232650/http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/candidates/general/senate/senateaddr.shtml|archivedate=2008-02-13}}</ref>
From 1988 to 1993, Wentworth was a member of the [[Texas House of Representatives]] from District 123. He won a [[special election]] on May 7, 1988, called when Republican Representative [[Kae T. Patrick]] of [[San Antonio, Texas|San Antonio]] resigned during his fourth term.
In 2010, Wentworth wrote to Chairman Ron Blatchley (Chairman of the Texas State University System Board of Regents) a scathing letter from a sitting State Senator expressing his unhappiness with the Texas State University System Board of Regents decision to appoint State Rep. Brian McCall as the Chancellor of the Texas State University System over him. In the letter, Wentworth expressed a strong disagreement with McCall's appointment and repeatedly states that he authored the bill that changed the name of Southwest Texas State University (SWT) to Texas State University-San Marcos (TSU-SM) - an unpopular bill among the vast majority of SWT alumni with suggestions throughout he expected this appointment in part due to carrying this legislation, having it killed in one sub-committee, re-introducing the bill in a rush before another unrelated sub-committee to finally get it passed. Opposition to the bill was not limited to SWT alumni but also included dozens and dozens of Texas Southern University (TSU) faculty, students and alumni aligned with SWT alumni.<ref>[https://static.texastribune.org/media/documents/Wentworths_Letter.pdf Wentworth's Letter], static.texastribune.org. Accessed May 24, 2023.</ref>
In 2012, Wentworth was defeated in his bid for re-nomination. In the Republican [[Partisan primary|primary]] [[runoff election|runoff]] held on July 31, he lost to Tea Party candidate [[Donna Campbell]], who amassed 45,292 votes (66.2 percent) to Wentworth's 23,168 (33.8 percent).<ref name="statesman08012012">{{cite news | last = Ward | first = Mike | title = Campbell ousts Texas Senate veteran Wentworth | url = http://www.statesman.com/news/texas-politics/campbell-ousts-texas-senate-veteran-wentworth-2425822.html | newspaper = Austin American-Statesman | date = August 1, 2012 | accessdate = 1 August 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120804032835/http://www.statesman.com/news/texas-politics/campbell-ousts-texas-senate-veteran-wentworth-2425822.html | archive-date = 4 August 2012 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}</ref>
Wentworth and his wife Karla, a licensed professional interior designer, have two sons, Jason and Matthew Wentworth. After his term in the state Senate, Wentworth was appointed to the position of Precinct 3 justice of the peace by the Bexar County Commission.<ref>''[[San Antonio Express-News]]'', November 21, 2012</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.texasmonthly.com/content/mr-right/page/0/6|title=Mr. Right|magazine=[[Texas Monthly]]|author=Karen Olsson|date=November 2002|accessdate=March 19, 2015}}</ref>
In 2026, a dispute between Wentworth and his neighbor over her fence was featured on the television show [[Neighbors (TV series)|Neighbors]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Foggatt |first1=Tyler |title=“Neighbors” Captures the Drama That Follows You Home |url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/on-television/neighbors-captures-the-drama-that-follows-you-home |access-date=March 22, 2026 |work=[[The New Yorker]] |date=March 6, 2026}}</ref>
==Election history==
Senate election history of Wentworth.<ref>Uncontested primary elections are not shown.</ref>
===2012===
{{Election box begin no party | title=[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] primary, 2012: [[Texas Senate, District 25|Senate District 25]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://enr.sos.state.tx.us/enr/results/july31_162_state.htm?x=0&y=0&id=987 | title = 2012 Republican Party Primary Election | accessdate = 2012-08-01 | publisher = Office of the Secretary of State (Texas)}}</ref> }} {{Election box candidate no party with winner | winner = ✓ | candidate = [[Donna Campbell]] | votes = 45,292 | percentage = 66.15% | change = }} {{Election box candidate no party with winner | winner = | candidate = Jeff Wentworth ([[Incumbent]]) | votes = 23,168 | percentage = 33.84% | change = }} {{Election box majority no party | votes = | percentage = | change = }} {{Election box turnout no party | votes = 68,460 | percentage = | change = }} {{election box end}}
===2010===
{{Election box begin | title=[[Texas general election, 2010]]: [[Texas Senate, District 25|Senate District 25]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |title=2010 General Election |accessdate=2011-02-02 |publisher=Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061108172637/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |archivedate=2006-11-08 }}</ref> }} {{Election box candidate with party link | party= Republican Party (US) | candidate = Jeff Wentworth ([[Incumbent]]) | votes = 192,965 | percentage = 82.17 | change = not reported }} {{Election box candidate with party link | party= Libertarian Party (US) | candidate = [[Arthur Maxwell Thomas, IV]] | votes = 40,972 | percentage = 17.44 | change = not reported }} {{Election box candidate with party link | party= Independent (politician) | candidate = [[Eric R. Anderson]] | votes = 885 | percentage = 0.37 | change = not reported }} {{Election box candidate with party link | party= Democratic Party (US) | candidate = [[No candidate on ballot]] | votes = 0 | percentage = 0 | change = not reported }} {{Election box turnout | votes = 234,822 | percentage = not reported | change = not reported }} {{Election box end}}
===2006===
{{Election box begin | title=[[Texas general election, 2006]]: [[Texas Senate, District 25|Senate District 25]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |title=2006 General Election |accessdate=2007-01-04 |publisher=Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061108172637/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |archivedate=2006-11-08 }}</ref> }} {{Election box candidate with party link | party= Republican Party (US) | candidate = Jeff Wentworth ([[Incumbent]]) | votes = 132,872 | percentage = 58.32 | change = -8.41 }} {{Election box candidate with party link | party= Democratic Party (US) | candidate = [[Kathleen Thomas|Kathleen "Kathi" Thomas]] | votes = 84,816 | percentage = 37.23 | change = +7.03 }} {{Election box candidate with party link | party= Libertarian Party (US) | candidate = [[James R. Thompson|James R. "Bob" Thompson]] | votes = 10,137 | percentage = 4.45 | change = +1.38 }} {{Election box majority | votes = 48,056 | percentage = 21.09 | change = -15.45 }} {{Election box turnout | votes = 227,825 | percentage = | change = +11.14 }} {{Election box hold with party link no swing | winner = Republican Party (US) }} {{Election box end}}
===2002===
{{Election box begin | title=[[Texas general election, 2002]]: [[Texas Senate, District 25|Senate District 25]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |title=2002 General Election |accessdate=2007-01-04 |publisher=Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061108172637/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |archivedate=2006-11-08 }}</ref> }} {{Election box candidate with party link | party= Republican Party (US) | candidate = Jeff Wentworth ([[Incumbent]]) | votes = 136,802 | percentage = 66.73 | change = -20.70 }} {{Election box candidate with party link | party= Democratic Party (US) | candidate = [[Joseph P. Sullivan|Joseph "Joe" P. Sullivan]] | votes = 61,899 | percentage = 30.20 | change = +17.63 }} {{Election box candidate with party link | party= Libertarian Party (US) | candidate = [[Rex Black]] | votes = 6,293 | percentage = 3.07 | change = +3.07 }} {{Election box majority | votes = 74,903 | percentage = 36.54 | change = -38.32 }} {{Election box turnout | votes = 204,994 | percentage = | change = -36.86 }} {{Election box hold with party link no swing | winner = Republican Party (US) }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin no party | title=[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] primary, 2002: [[Texas Senate, District 25|Senate District 25]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |title=2002 Republican Party Primary Election |accessdate=2007-01-04 |publisher=Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061108172637/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |archivedate=2006-11-08 }}</ref> }} {{Election box candidate no party with winner | winner = | candidate = [[John Shields (Texas politician)|John H. Shields]] | votes = 25,265 | percentage = 48.83 | change = }} {{Election box candidate no party with winner | winner = ✓ | candidate = Jeff Wentworth ([[Incumbent]]) | votes = 26,481 | percentage = 51.17 | change = }} {{Election box majority no party | votes = 1,216 | percentage = 2.35 | change = }} {{Election box turnout no party | votes = 51,746 | percentage = | change = }} {{election box end}}
===2000===
{{Election box begin | title=[[Texas general election, 2000]]: [[Texas Senate, District 25|Senate District 25]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |title=2000 General Election |accessdate=2007-01-04 |publisher=Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061108172637/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |archivedate=2006-11-08 }}</ref> }} {{Election box candidate with party link | party= Republican Party (US) | candidate = Jeff Wentworth ([[Incumbent]]) | votes = 283,857 | percentage = 87.43 | change = -12.57 }} {{Election box candidate with party link | party= Libertarian Party (US) | candidate = [[George Meeks]] | votes = 40,806 | percentage = 12.57 | change = +12.57 }} {{Election box majority | votes = 243,051 | percentage = 74.86 | change = -25.14 }} {{Election box turnout | votes = 324,663 | percentage = | change = +45.11 }} {{Election box hold with party link no swing | winner = Republican Party (US) }} {{Election box end}}
===1996===
{{Election box begin | title=[[Texas general election, 1996]]: [[Texas Senate, District 25|Senate District 25]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |title=1996 General Election |accessdate=2007-01-04 |publisher=Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061108172637/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |archivedate=2006-11-08 }}</ref> }} {{Election box candidate with party link | party= Republican Party (US) | candidate = Jeff Wentworth ([[Incumbent]]) | votes = 223,739 | percentage = 100.00 | change = +24.97 }} {{Election box majority | votes = 223,739 | percentage = 100.00 | change = +46.58 }} {{Election box turnout | votes = 223,739 | percentage = | change = +5.10 }} {{Election box hold with party link no swing | winner = Republican Party (US) }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin no party | title=[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] primary, 1996: [[Texas Senate, District 25|Senate District 25]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |title=1996 Republican Party Primary Election |accessdate=2007-01-04 |publisher=Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061108172637/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |archivedate=2006-11-08 }}</ref> }} {{Election box candidate no party with winner | winner = | candidate = [[Randy Staudt]] | votes = 24,930 | percentage = 29.54 | change = }} {{Election box candidate no party with winner | winner = ✓ | candidate = Jeff Wentworth ([[Incumbent]]) | votes = 59,476 | percentage = 70.46 | change = }} {{Election box majority no party | votes = 34,546 | percentage = 40.93 | change = }} {{Election box turnout no party | votes = 84,406 | percentage = | change = }} {{election box end}}
===1994===
{{Election box begin long names | title=[[Texas general election, 1994]]: [[Texas Senate, District 25|Senate District 25]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |title=1994 General Election |accessdate=2007-01-04 |publisher=Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061108172637/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |archivedate=2006-11-08 }}</ref> }} {{Election box candidate with party link | party= Democratic Party (US) | candidate = [[Jim Saunders]] | votes = 53,152 | percentage = 24.97 | change = -26.78 }} {{Election box candidate with party link | party= Republican Party (US) | candidate = Jeff Wentworth ([[Incumbent]])<ref>Wentworth was the [[Texas Senate, District 26|District 26]] incumbent prior to the 1994 Senate redistricting.</ref> | votes = 159,729 | percentage = 75.03 | change = +26.78 }} {{Election box majority | votes = 106,577 | percentage = 50.06 | change = +46.58 }} {{Election box turnout | votes = | percentage = | change = }} {{Election box gain with party link no swing | winner = Republican Party (US) | loser = Democratic Party (US) }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin no party | title=[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] primary, 1994: [[Texas Senate, District 25|Senate District 25]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |title=1994 Republican Party Primary Election |accessdate=2007-01-04 |publisher=Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061108172637/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |archivedate=2006-11-08 }}</ref> }} {{Election box candidate no party with winner | winner = | candidate = [[Van Archer]] | votes = 21,341 | percentage = 39.66 | change = }} {{Election box candidate no party with winner | winner = ✓ | candidate = Jeff Wentworth ([[Incumbent]]) | votes = 32,473 | percentage = 60.34 | change = }} {{Election box majority no party | votes = 11,132 | percentage = 20.69 | change = }} {{Election box turnout no party | votes = 53,814 | percentage = | change = }} {{election box end}}
===1992===
{{Election box begin | title=[[Texas general election, 1992]]: [[Texas Senate, District 26|Senate District 26]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |title=1992 General Election |accessdate=2007-01-05 |publisher=Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061108172637/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |archivedate=2006-11-08 }}</ref> }} {{Election box candidate with party link | party= Democratic Party (US) | candidate = [[Carlos Higgins]] | votes = 73,303 | percentage = 33.40 | change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link | party= Republican Party (US) | candidate = Jeff Wentworth | votes = 146,159 | percentage = 66.60 | change = }} {{Election box majority | votes = 72,856 | percentage = 33.20 | change = }} {{Election box turnout | votes = 219,462 | percentage = | change = }} {{Election box hold with party link no swing | winner = Republican Party (US) }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin no party | title=[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] primary runoff, 1992: [[Texas Senate, District 26|Senate District 26]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |title=1992 Republican Party Primary Runoff Election |accessdate=2007-01-05 |publisher=Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061108172637/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |archivedate=2006-11-08 }}</ref> }} {{Election box candidate no party with winner | winner = | candidate = [[Alan Schoolcraft]] | votes = 10,388 | percentage = 47.30 | change = <ref>Change from primary election</ref>+12.59 }} {{Election box candidate no party with winner | winner = ✓ | candidate = Jeff Wentworth | votes = 11,574 | percentage = 52.70 | change = +18.98 }} {{Election box majority no party | votes = 1,186 | percentage = 5.40 | change = }} {{Election box turnout no party | votes = 21,962 | percentage = | change = }} {{election box end}} {{Election box begin no party | title=[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] primary, 1992: [[Texas Senate, District 26|Senate District 26]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |title=1992 Republican Party Primary Election |accessdate=2007-01-05 |publisher=Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061108172637/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |archivedate=2006-11-08 }}</ref> }} {{Election box candidate no party with winner | winner = | candidate = [[Jim Canady]] | votes = 1,547 | percentage = 3.71 | change = }} {{Election box candidate no party with winner | winner = | candidate = [[John Fisher]] | votes = 7,222 | percentage = 17.30 | change = }} {{Election box candidate no party with winner | winner = | candidate = [[George Pierce (Texas politician)|George Boyd Pierce]] | votes = 4,407 | percentage = 10.56 | change = }} {{Election box candidate no party with winner | winner = ✓ | candidate = [[Alan Schoolcraft]] | votes = 14,490 | percentage = 34.71 | change = }} {{Election box candidate no party with winner | winner = ✓ | candidate = Jeff Wentworth | votes = 14,076 | percentage = 33.72 | change = }} {{Election box turnout no party | votes = 41,742 | percentage = | change = }} {{election box end}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20061231030618/http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Senate/members/dist25/dist25.htm Senate of Texas - Senator Jeff Wentworth] '''official TX Senate website''' *[http://votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=5462 Project Vote Smart - Senator Earl Jeffrey 'Jeff' Wentworth (TX)] profile *''Follow the Money'' - Jeff Wentworth **[http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=81247 2006] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=71835 2004] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=6460 2002] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=52665 2000] campaign contributions *{{C-SPAN|89003}} {{s-start}} {{s-par|us-tx-hs}} {{TXHouseSuccession box | district = 123 | hometown = San Antonio | before = [[Kae T. Patrick]] | after = [[Frank Corte Jr.]] | years = 1988 – 1993 }} {{s-par|us-tx-sen}} {{s-bef | before= [[Cyndi Taylor Krier]]}} {{s-ttl | title= [[Texas Senate|Texas State Senator]]<br />from [[Texas Senate, District 26|District 26]] ([[San Antonio, Texas|San Antonio]]) | years= 1993 – 1995}} {{s-aft | rows=1 | after=[[Gregory Luna]] }} {{s-bef | before= [[Bill Sims (Texas politician)|Bill Sims]]}} {{s-ttl | title= [[Texas Senate|Texas State Senator]]<br />from [[Texas Senate, District 25|District 25]] ([[San Antonio, Texas|San Antonio]]) | years= 1995 - 2013}} {{s-aft | rows=1 | after=[[Donna Campbell]] }} {{succession box | title = [[List of Presidents pro tempore of the Texas Senate|President ''pro tempore'' of the Texas Senate]] | before = [[Jane Nelson]] | after = [[Florence Shapiro]] | years = 20 April 2004–11 January 2005 }} {{s-end}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wentworth, Jeff}} [[Category:1940 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Presidents pro tempore of the Texas Senate]] [[Category:Republican Party Texas state senators]] [[Category:Republican Party members of the Texas House of Representatives]] [[Category:Texas justices of the peace]] [[Category:People from Mercedes, Texas]] [[Category:Politicians from San Antonio]] [[Category:Texas A&M University alumni]] [[Category:Texas Tech University School of Law alumni]] [[Category:Texas lawyers]] [[Category:21st-century members of the Texas Legislature]] [[Category:20th-century members of the Texas Legislature]]