Gene Wu

Eugene Yuanzhi Wu was born on March 23, 1978. He is an American lawyer and politician who has represented Texas's 137th House district in the Texas House of Representatives since 2013. Wu represents a diverse, heavily urban district in southwest Houston that includes parts of Sharpstown and Alief.

Before his election to the legislature, Wu worked as a prosecutor in the Harris County District Attorney's Office, where he focused on seeking justice for crime victims. He later transitioned to private practice as an attorney in Houston.

Political Experience

Wu is a member of the Democratic Party. He was first elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 2012 and took office on January 8, 2013, succeeding longtime Democratic representative Scott Hochberg. He has been re-elected in each subsequent cycle.

In 2024, Wu was elected minority leader of the Texas House for the 89th Legislature, succeeding Trey Martinez Fischer. This represents a significant leadership position within the chamber.

Education and Committee Positions

Wu is a University of Texas at Austin alumnus.

Currently, Wu serves in several important capacities within the legislature. He serves as vice chair of the House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence and sits on the Appropriations Committee, the Appropriations Subcommittee on Articles I, IV, and V, and select and standing committees related to redistricting and congressional maps. Throughout his tenure, he has also served on committees including Human Services, Energy Resources, Elections, County Affairs, Juvenile Justice and Family Issues, and Pensions, Investments and Financial Services.

Wu has maintained a focus on children's welfare and criminal justice reform. He has authored numerous pieces of legislation supporting greater justice for juveniles, specifically fighting the school-to-prison pipeline and passing comprehensive Child Protective Services reform. Additionally, he has been appointed to the Texas Access to Justice Commission and the Texas State Child Fatality Review Team.