Rhetta Andrews Bowers is a Democratic member of the Texas House of Representatives representing District 113, which includes parts of Rowlett, Garland, Mesquite, and Seagoville in Dallas County. She assumed office on January 8, 2019, succeeding Republican Cindy Burkett, and made history as the first African American of Caribbean descent elected to represent the district. Bowers is an educator and former broadcast journalist who champions women and children's rights, juvenile justice, eliminating the school-to-prison pipeline, and uplifting marginalized communities. Notable achievements include co-founding and chairing the Dallas Women's March since 2016, serving on the Rowlett Parks and Recreation Advisory Board for eight years, and contributing to tornado recovery efforts in Rowlett in 2015. She endorsed Joe Biden in the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries.

Education

Bowers earned a Bachelor of Arts in Telecommunications, with an emphasis in Broadcast Journalism, from Texas Southern University. She is also an alumna of Spelman College.

Political Experience

Bowers began her career in public television at PBS headquarters and WETA-TV 26/Radio 90.9 in Washington, D.C., then worked in commercial television at KCEN-TV 6 in Texas as a producer. She later served as educational services coordinator for KERA TV 13/Radio 90.1, fueling her education advocacy. Politically active since middle school volunteering for Congressman Mickey Leland's campaign, she was elected to the Texas House in 2018. During the 86th Legislative Session , she served on the House Committees for Corrections, Juvenile Justice & Family Issues, and Local and Consent Calendars. In later sessions, she has been on Criminal Jurisprudence, Delivery of Government Efficiency, and Local & Consent Calendars . She remains an active member of St. Paul United Methodist Church.