Royce West is a Democratic State Senator representing Texas Senate District 23 , a position he has held since 1993 after first being elected in 1992. Born on September 26, 1952, he serves as managing partner of the law firm West & Associates, L.L.P., and has been recognized by Texas Monthly as one of the "Ten Best Legislators in Texas" twice, one of the 25 most powerful people in Texas politics, and included on lists like the Associated Press' "Movers and Shakers." Notable achievements include authoring Texas' first racial profiling bill, the first body camera and dashcam laws for police , the Top 10% Rule for university admissions, legislation enabling community college credits at four-year universities, securing Dallas' first public university and law school, pay raises for teachers, and stipends for grandparents/aunts/uncles caring for children avoiding foster care. He served as President Pro Tempore of the Texas Senate in 2006 and chairs committees like Intergovernmental Relations, while previously chairing Jurisprudence and Higher Education.

Education

• B.A. and M.A. in Sociology, University of Texas at Arlington.
• J.D., University of Houston School of Law .

Political Experience

• First African American Chief Felony Prosecutor in Dallas County history, after roles in Harris and Dallas County District Attorney’s Offices.
• Senior partner at Robinson, West, and Gooden , then managing partner at West & Associates.
• Texas Senate service : Committees including Education, Finance, Health & Human Services, Criminal Justice, Higher Education, Jurisprudence, and Transportation; Vice Chair of Higher Education and Transportation.
• Democratic National Committee Executive Committee member; former Texas Democratic Party Convention Chair.
• Ran for U.S. Senate in Texas ; candidate for District 23 .