Borris Miles
2017 - Present
2027
8
Borris Miles (Democratic Party) is a member of the Texas State Senate, representing District 13. He assumed office in 2017. His current term ends on January 11, 2027.
Miles (Democratic Party) won re-election to the Texas State Senate to represent District 13 outright after the general election on November 8, 2022, was canceled.
Miles is a former member of the Texas House of Representatives, representing District 146 from 2007 to 2009 and from 2011 to 2013.[1]
On December 7, 2017, the Daily Beast published an article that included allegations that Miles engaged in sexual misconduct while a member of the state legislature. Click here to read more.
Biography
Borris Miles earned a B.S. in Criminal Justice and Criminal Science from Sam Houston State University. His career experience includes working as a police officer for the Houston Independent School District Police Department and running the Borris L. Miles Insurance Agency. Miles has been affiliated with the Urban League, the United Negro College Fund, and several other charities. Miles also founded both the North Forest Scholarship and an endowment to fight sickle cell anemia.[2][3]
Committee assignments
Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.
2023-2024
Miles was assigned to the following committees:
- Committee of the Whole Senate
- Criminal Justice Committee
- Health & Human Services Committee
- Natural Resources and Economic Development Committee
- Nominations Committee
- Senate Transportation Committee
2021-2022
Miles was assigned to the following committees:
- Criminal Justice Committee
- Health & Human Services Committee
- Senate Higher Education Committee
- Nominations Committee
2019-2020
Miles was assigned to the following committees:
- Criminal Justice Committee
- Health & Human Services Committee
- Natural Resources and Economic Development Committee
- Nominations Committee
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Texas committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Agriculture, Water and Rural Affairs |
| • Health & Human Services |
| • Natural Resources and Economic Development |
| • Nominations |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Miles served on the following committees:
| Texas committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Appropriations |
| • Licensing & Administrative Procedures |
2013-2014
In the 2013-2014 legislative session, Miles served on the following committees:
| Texas committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Elections, Vice chair |
| • Licensing & Administrative Procedures |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Miles served on the following Texas House of Representatives committees:
| Texas committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Agriculture and Livestock |
| • Economic & Small Business Development |
Noteworthy events
First term agenda
Several of his bills dealt with conditions for inmates, services for children and environmental issues. During his first term, he was assigned to the Government Reform and Licensing and Administrative Procedures Committees and saw 25 bills (sponsored or authored) pass into law.[1]
Medical tourism
Miles has been a proponent for medical tourism, in which people travel to other countries to receive treatment that would be much more expensive in the United States. In November 2010, he offered an all-expenses paid trip to Costa Rica to a majority of Houston Independent School District trustees to look into the cost-savings medical tourism could provide.[4]
Miles, who owns his own insurance agency and is a vendor of HISD, organized the trips at the behest and expense of the Costa Rican government. Miles is an associate of DiCarlo Davis, chief executive officer of the company that organized the medical tourism familiarization event in November 2010.[5]
An HISD trustee, Larry Marshall, twice took up Miles' offer of an all-expenses-paid trip. He attended the November 2010 medical tourism event and held a campaign fundraiser in Costa Rica in April 2010.[6]
Miles said he has offered the paid trips to Costa Rica to school boards, union leaders and "any people of influence."[7]
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2022
See also: Texas State Senate elections, 2022
General election
The general election was canceled. Incumbent Borris Miles won election in the general election for Texas State Senate District 13.
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Texas State Senate District 13
Incumbent Borris Miles advanced from the Democratic primary for Texas State Senate District 13 on March 1, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Borris Miles | 100.0 | 45,597 |
| Total votes: 45,597 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign finance
2020
See also: Texas State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for Texas State Senate District 13
Incumbent Borris Miles defeated Milinda Morris in the general election for Texas State Senate District 13 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Borris Miles (D) | 80.5 | 200,195 |
 | Milinda Morris (R) | 19.5 | 48,581 | |
| Total votes: 248,776 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Texas State Senate District 13
Incumbent Borris Miles defeated Melissa Morris and Richard Andrews in the Democratic primary for Texas State Senate District 13 on March 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Borris Miles | 55.4 | 36,514 |
 | Melissa Morris | 34.7 | 22,840 | |
 | Richard Andrews | 9.9 | 6,525 | |
| Total votes: 65,879 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Texas State Senate District 13
Milinda Morris defeated William Booher in the Republican primary for Texas State Senate District 13 on March 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Milinda Morris | 65.0 | 5,363 |
| William Booher | 35.0 | 2,884 | ||
| Total votes: 8,247 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign finance
2016
State Senate
- See also: Texas State Senate elections, 2016
Elections for the Texas State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election was held on March 1, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was December 14, 2015.[8] Incumbent Rodney Ellis (D) dropped his re-election bid after he won the Democratic nomination for a vacant seat on the Harris County commissioner's court. State Rep. Borris Miles (D) replaced Ellis on the general election ballot.
Borris Miles defeated Joshua Rohn in the Texas State Senate District 13 general election.[9]
| Texas State Senate, District 13 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Borris Miles |
92.50% | 178,277 | |
| Libertarian | Joshua Rohn | 7.50% | 14,447 | |
| Total Votes | 192,724 | |||
| Source: Texas Secretary of State | ||||
Incumbent Rodney Ellis ran unopposed in the Texas State Senate District 13 Democratic Primary.[10][11]
| Texas State Senate, District 13 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Rodney Ellis Incumbent (unopposed) | |
State House
Elections for the Texas House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election was held on March 1, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was December 14, 2015.[12] Incumbent Borris Miles (D) dropped his re-election bid after the Democratic primary. He was picked to run for a state Senate seat. Shawn Thierry (D) replaced incumbent Miles on the ballot.
Shawn Thierry ran unopposed in the Texas House of Representatives District 146 general election.[13]
| Texas House of Representatives, District 146 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Shawn Thierry (unopposed) |
100.00% | 39,452 | |
| Total Votes | 39,452 | |||
| Source: Texas Secretary of State | ||||
Incumbent Borris Miles ran unopposed in the Texas House of Representatives District 146 Democratic Primary.[10][11]
| Texas House of Representatives, District 146 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Borris Miles Incumbent (unopposed) | |
2014
Elections for all 150 seats in the Texas House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on March 4, 2014. Those candidates who did not receive 50 percent or more of the vote in their party primary on March 4 faced an additional May 27 primary runoff. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was December 9, 2013. Incumbent Borris Miles was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Miles defeated Morgan Bradford (Green Party) in the general election.[14][15][16]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Borris Miles Incumbent |
91.9% | 21,702 | |
| Green | Morgan Bradford | 8.1% | 1,920 | |
| Total Votes | 23,622 | |||
2012
Miles ran in the 2012 election for Texas House of Representatives, District 146. Miles defeated Al Edwards in the May 29 primary election and was unchallenged in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[17]
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Borris Miles Incumbent |
57.6% | 4,484 |
| Al Edwards | 42.4% | 3,305 |
| Total Votes | 7,789 | |
2010
In the March 2 Democratic primary, Miles defeated incumbent Al Edwards by a margin of 5,048-5,040.[17] Edwards was seeking his second term. Miles was unopposed in the general election on November 2, 2010.[18]
| Texas House of Representatives, District 146 2010 General election results | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Borris Miles (D)
|
25,098 | 100% | ||
Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Borris Miles did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Borris Miles did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Endorsements
2012
In 2012, Miles’s endorsements included the following:
- The Houston Chronicle
- The Latino Labor Leadership Council
- Tejano Democrats
- Houston Black American Democrats
- Democracy for Houston
- Houston GLBT Caucus
- South Union Civic Club
- Off the Kuff with Charles Kuffner
- Dos Centavos with Stace Medellin
- Texas Liberal with Neil Aquino
- Brains and Eggs with Perry Dorrell
- Mt. Hebron Baptist Church
- Loyal Missionary Baptist Church
- The Honorable Annise Parker
- The Honorable Ron Green
- The Honorable Jolanda Jones
- The Honorable James Rodriguez
- The Honorable Wanda Adams
- The Honorable Debbie Kerner
- The Honorable Larry Marshall
- The Honorable Paula Harris
- The Honorable Michael P. Williams
- The Honorable Chris Oliver
- Constable May Walker
- Audrey Lawson
- Joe Samuels
- Patricia Rauch
- Alvin Zimmerman
- Carl Davis
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Texas scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2024
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2024, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2024, the Texas State Legislature was not in session. |
2023
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2023, the Texas State Legislature was in session from January 10 to May 29.
|
2022
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2022, the Texas State Legislature was not in session. |
2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2021, the Texas State Legislature was in session from January 12 to May 31.
|
2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2020, the Texas State Legislature was not in session. |
2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2019, the Texas State Legislature was in its 86th legislative session from January 8 through May 27.
|
2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2018, the Texas State Legislature did not hold a regular session. |
2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2017, the Texas State Legislature was in its 85th legislative session from January 10 through May 29. A special session was held from July 18 to August 15.
|
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Miles is married and has two children. He belongs to the congregation of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church.
Noteworthy events
Competition with Edwards and home invasion
Miles defeated Al Edwards, a 26-year incumbent, in 2006. However, his first term was marred by legal issues over Miles' July 2007 shooting of a man robbing his home and, later, of allegations that he brandished a firearm at a December 2007 party he had attended uninvited.[19] Miles holds a concealed carry permit and was not charged in the shooting at his home after police declared it to be self-defense. He was also cleared of all charges related to brandishing allegations.
During his first term in the state Legislature, on March 20, 2007, Miles voted against CSSB 378, a bill to allow the use of deadly force against intruders with no duty to retreat and with civil immunity if the act of force was found to be self-defense. The bill, however, passed the House 133-13 and passed the Senate unanimously, being signed into law on March 27, 2007.[20][21]
Edwards challenged Miles in 2008 and won his old seat back. Now, in 2010, the same match-up has given the primary victory to Miles. The primary vote went into a recount and Miles emerged the winner by an impossibly slim eight vote margin.[22]
The back-and-forth fight for the seat has birthed a rivalry between the two men, which quite possibly culminated on a morning radio broadcast on February 11, 2010. Edwards had publicly stated, in an early February interview with local radio host Michael Harriss on KCOH, that he would not debate Miles until the latter passed a drug test, saying Miles' behavior for the past several years had been erratic.[23]
On February 11, when he was participating in the same morning show on KCOH, Borris Miles brought a private drug testing firm with him to the studio, provided a urine sample and had the sample screened - all on live radio. After passing the drug test, Miles challenged Edwards to take an IQ test.[24]
Early call of close race
Miles put out a press release declaring himself the victor of the primary race at noon on March 12, 2010, even though his opponent, Al Edwards, had until close of business on Monday, March 15, 2010, to make an official request for a recount.[25] While Edwards did ultimately seek a recount, Texas election law also would have given him the avenue to file a lawsuit had he wished to do so after losing the recount.
Ethics complaint regarding campaign signs
Miles is the target of an ethics complaint, filed by Texans for Ethics and Accountability, over the wording of his campaign signs, which urge voters to "re-elect" him. Under Texas law, only incumbent candidates - not former office holders - may use "re-elect" in campaign signs.[26][27]
See also
2022 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Borris Miles for State Representative 146, "Legislation," accessed September 10, 2010
- ↑ The Texas Senate, "Senator Borris L. Miles: District 13," accessed August 27, 2025
- ↑ Texas Business Roundtable, "Borris Miles," accessed August 27, 2025
- ↑ Texas Watchdog, "HISD vendor state Rep. Borris Miles offered trustees all-expenses-paid Costa Rican trip, email shows," June 16,2011
- ↑ Texas Watchdog, "Friend of Rep. Borris Miles runs Costa Rican 'medical tourism' firm; HISD approves $600K contract with doc linked to same firm," July 13, 2011
- ↑ Texas Watchdog, "Houston ISD trustee Larry Marshall held fundraiser on Rep. Borris Miles-arranged Costa Rica trip; see photo and source documents," June 17, 2011
- ↑ Texas Watchdog, "State Rep. Borris Miles: I've offered free Costa Rica trips to school trustees across Texas, and there's nothing wrong with it," June 22, 2011
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "Important 2016 Election Dates," accessed December 14, 2015
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "2016 General Election," accessed December 2, 2016
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Texas Secretary of State, "2016 March Primary Election Candidate Filings by County," accessed August 22, 2016
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Texas Secretary of State, "1992 - Current Election History results," accessed August 22, 2016
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "Important 2016 Election Dates," accessed December 14, 2015
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "2016 General Election," accessed December 2, 2016
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "1992 - Current ELECTION HISTORY," accessed December 2, 2014
- ↑ The Libertarian Party of Texas, "2014 Texas Representative Candidate List," accessed July 30, 2014
- ↑ Green Party of Texas, "Greens Release Candidate List," accessed July 30, 2014
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Texas Secretary of State, "1992 - Current Election History," accessed February 17, 2014
- ↑ Office of the Secretary of State, "2010 General Election," accessed August 27, 2025
- ↑ The Houston Chronicle, "State Rep. Miles indicted on deadly conduct charges," April 14, 2008
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Key Vote: Deadly Force in Self-Defense," accessed September 10, 2010
- ↑ Fox News, "Texas State Lawmaker Opposing Deadly Force Bill Shoots Would-Be Thief," July 9, 2007
- ↑ The Texas Tribune, "Recount Confirms Borris Miles Wins Primary," March 24, 2010
- ↑ Isiah Carey's Insite, "I'LL DEBATE YOU IF YOU TAKE A DRUG TEST FIRST!" accessed September 10, 2010
- ↑ The Texas Tribune, "Borris Miles Takes Part in Drug Test on Live Radio," February 11, 2010
- ↑ The Houston Chronicle, "Miles by an inch," March 12, 2010
- ↑ The Houston Chronicle, "Misleading Miles markers?" March 18, 2010
- ↑ Texas Watchdog, "Allegation: Signs posted by Borris Miles in heated Houston statehouse race violated election laws," March 17, 2010
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Texas State Senate District 13 2017-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Texas House of Representatives District 146 2011-2013 |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Texas House of Representatives District 146 2007-2009 |
Succeeded by - |
