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Rodney Ellis
2017 - Present
2028
8
Rodney Ellis (Democratic Party) is a member of the Harris County Commissioners Court in Texas, representing District 1. He assumed office on January 1, 2017. His current term ends on December 31, 2028.
Ellis (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Harris County Commissioners Court to represent District 1 in Texas. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Biography
Ellis studied at Xavier University in New Orleans, and earned his bachelor's degree from Texas Southern University in Houston. He holds a master's in public affairs (M.P.A.) from the University of Texas. He studied at the London School of Economics and earned his J.D. from the University of Texas.
Ellis has worked as an attorney and investment banker. He is a partner with Rice Financial Products Company.
Elections
2024
See also: Municipal elections in Harris County, Texas (2024)
General election
General election for Harris County Commissioners Court Precinct 1
Incumbent Rodney Ellis defeated Gerry Vander-Lyn in the general election for Harris County Commissioners Court Precinct 1 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Rodney Ellis (D) | 71.6 | 259,713 |
 | Gerry Vander-Lyn (R)  | 28.4 | 102,842 | |
| Total votes: 362,555 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Harris County Commissioners Court Precinct 1
Incumbent Rodney Ellis advanced from the Democratic primary for Harris County Commissioners Court Precinct 1 on March 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Rodney Ellis | 100.0 | 64,485 |
| Total votes: 64,485 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Harris County Commissioners Court Precinct 1
Gerry Vander-Lyn advanced from the Republican primary for Harris County Commissioners Court Precinct 1 on March 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Gerry Vander-Lyn | 100.0 | 16,928 |
| Total votes: 16,928 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Ellis in this election.
2020
See also: Municipal elections in Harris County, Texas (2020)
General election
The general election was canceled. Incumbent Rodney Ellis won election in the general election for Harris County Commissioners Court Precinct 1.
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Harris County Commissioners Court Precinct 1
Incumbent Rodney Ellis defeated Maria T. Jackson in the Democratic primary for Harris County Commissioners Court Precinct 1 on March 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Rodney Ellis | 66.7 | 63,355 |
 | Maria T. Jackson | 33.3 | 31,684 | |
| Total votes: 95,039 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
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2016
Harris County Commissioners Court
Harris County held elections for county commission, justices of the peace, constables, district attorney, county attorney, sheriff, county tax assessor-collector, and the Harris County Department of Education Board of Trustees in 2016. The general election was held on November 8, 2016. A primary election was held on March 1, 2016, and a primary runoff took place on May 24, 2016. The filing deadline for those wishing to run in this election was December 14, 2015.[1] Rodney Ellis (D) ran unopposed in the Harris County Commissioners Court District 1 general election.
| Harris County Commissioners Court, District 1 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Rodney Ellis (unopposed) |
100.00% | 258,803 | |
| Total Votes | 258,803 | |||
| Source: Harris County Elections, "2016 General Election Official Results," November 16, 2016 | ||||
State legislature
- 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.[2] 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.[3]
| 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.[4][5]
| Texas State Senate, District 13 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Rodney Ellis Incumbent (unopposed) | |
2012
- See also: Texas State Senate elections, 2012
Ellis ran in the 2012 election for Texas State Senate, District 13. Ellis ran unopposed in the May 29 primary election and was unchallenged in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[6]
2010
- See also: Texas State Senate elections, 2010
Ellis won re-election to the 13th District seat in 2010. He ran unopposed in the primary.
Ellis defeated Republican opponent Michael Mauldin in the general election on November 6, 2012.[6]
| Texas State Senate, District 13 2010 General election results | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Rodney Ellis (D)
|
113,155 | 78.17% | ||
| Michael Mauldin (R) | 31,596 | 21.82% | ||
2006
On Nov. 7, 2006, Ellis won re-election to the 13th District Seat in the Texas State Senate.[6]
Ellis raised $532,709 for his campaign.[7]
| Texas State Senate, District 13 (2006) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Rodney Ellis (D)
|
90,148 | 100% | ||
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Rodney Ellis did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Rodney Ellis 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.
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Ellis and his wife, Licia Green Ellis, have four children.
Noteworthy events
Support for bill helping his company
In 2007, Ellis gave his endorsement to a Houston Independent School District bond package, which the voters passed. His firm, Rice Financial Products, allegedly worked on the school district's bond transactions. The website Texas Watchdog said that Ellis' firm was a minor contractor in the bond issues.[8]
Expensive hotel stays
In 2008, Ellis stayed at a $495-per-night Ritz-Carlton in Manhattan while attending a conference at taxpayer expense. The Houston Democrat picked the Ritz over the actual conference hotel, the Marriott Marquis near Times Square, where other state lawmakers stayed at less than half the Ritz's nightly rate. The gathering was organized by the National Conference of Insurance Legislators. His travel voucher listed $1,100 for two overnight stays at "no expense to the state."[9]
State legislative tenure
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.
2020
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]. |
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In 2019, the Texas State Legislature was in its 86th legislative session from January 8 through May 27.
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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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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]. |
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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.
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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the Texas State Legislature did not hold a regular session. |
2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the Texas State Legislature was in its 84th legislative session from January 13 through June 1.
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2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the Texas State Legislature did not hold a regular session. |
2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the Texas State Legislature was in its 83rd legislative session from January 8 through May 27. Thirty minutes after the regular session ended, Governor Rick Perry called legislators back for a special session starting that evening.[10] Two additional called sessions were held from July 1 through July 30 and July 30 through August 5.[11]
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2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
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In 2012, the Texas State Legislature did not hold a regular session. |
2011
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2011, click [show]. |
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In 2011, the Texas State Legislature was in its 82nd legislative session from January 11 through May 30. A special session was called for May 31 through June 29.[11]
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Committee assignments
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Ellis served on the following committees:
| Texas committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Business & Commerce |
| • State Affairs, Vice-Chair |
| • Transportation |
2013-2014
In the 2013-2014 legislative session, Ellis served on the following committees:
| Texas committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Natural Resources |
| • State Affairs |
| • Transportation |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Ellis served on the following Texas Senate committees:
| Texas committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Government Organization, Chair |
| • Criminal Justice |
| • State Affairs |
| • Transportation & Homeland Security |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Ellis served on the following Texas Senate committees:
| Texas committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Government Organization |
| • Criminal Justice |
| • State Affairs |
| • Transportation & Homeland Security |
Issues
Intern program
Ellis is credited with creating the Texas Legislative Internship Program and has said that working with legislative interns is one of his biggest accomplishments.[12]
Smoking ban
Ellis filed S.B. 87 ahead of the legislative session which would ban smoking in public places and the bulk of workplaces, with exceptions carved out for cigar bars and retail tobacco shops.[13] Many Texas cities have already enacted similar laws, with more than 100 cities passing laws banning smoking in public places in an attempt to reduce the harm of secondhand smoke. But, according to the bill's author, a statewide ban is still necessary despite the fact that nearly half of the state population lives in an area where such a law already exists at the city-level. “Without a statewide smoke-free law, 23 percent of Texans will remain unprotected from secondhand smoke exposure,” State Senator Ellis told Texas reporters. “These Texans live in unincorporated cities or rural areas where no entity exists to pass or enforce this type of legislation.”[14] Some restaurant owners who previously opposed a ban in their city have changed their mind, claiming the ban has increased their business by welcoming those who would be turned off by smoking.[15]
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.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Harris County Commissioners Court Precinct 1 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "Important 2016 Election Dates," accessed September 1, 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, "2016 March Primary Election Candidate Filings by County," accessed August 22, 2016
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "1992 - Current Election History results," accessed August 22, 2016
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Texas Secretary of State, "1992 - Current Election History," accessed February 17, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "2006 Candidate funds," accessed May 24, 2014
- ↑ Texas Watchdog, "Private firm stands to profit from bond package"
- ↑ Texas Watchdog, "Texas state senators travel in style; taxpayer money used for luxury hotels, private planes," November 5, 2009
- ↑ kten.com, "Texas Lawmakers To Tackle Redistricting In Special Session," May 29, 2013
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Legislative reference Library of Texas, "Texas Legislative Sessions and Years," accessed June 13, 2014
- ↑ Houston Chronicle, "Sen. Rodney Ellis is known for pushing long-shots and keeping at it until they ripen," April 2009
- ↑ The Cigar Authority, "News: Texas Proposes Statewide Smoking Ban," December 22, 2014
- ↑ Aman Batheja The New York Times, "Texas Once Again to Consider a Statewide Smoking Ban," December 18, 2014
- ↑ MyHighlandPlains.com, "As Statewide Smoking Ban Burns Out in Capitol, Cities Go It Alone," December 19, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Harris County Commissioners Court Precinct 1 2017-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Texas State Senate District 13 1991-2016 |
Succeeded by - |
 |
State of Texas Austin (capital) |
|---|---|
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