Jeff Wentworth

Earl Jeffrey Wentworth (born November 20, 1940) is a Republican former member of the Texas Senate from San Antonio. He represented District 25 in the upper legislative chamber from January 1997 to January 2013. In addition, from 1993 to 1997, he represented District 26, having been initially elected to the state senate in 1992 to succeed fellow Republican Cyndi Taylor Krier, when she became the county judge of Bexar County. District 25 included northern portions of Bexar County, all of Comal, Guadalupe, Hays, and Kendall counties, and a part of southern Travis County.^[1][2]

Jeff Wentworth
Member of the Texas Senate from the 25th district
In office 1997–2013
Preceded by	William "Bill" Sims
Succeeded by	Donna Campbell
Member of the Texas Senate from the 26th district
In office 1993–1997
Preceded by	Cyndi Taylor Krier
Succeeded by	Gregory Luna
State Representative from Texas District 123 (Bexar County)
In office May 11, 1988 – January 12, 1993
Preceded by	Kae T. Patrick
Succeeded by	Frank J. Corte Jr.
Personal details
Born	Earl Jeffrey Wentworth (1940-11-20) November 20, 1940 (age 83) Mercedes, Hidalgo County, Texas, USA
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Karleen Rae "Karla" L. Wentworth
Children	2
Residence(s)	San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Alma mater	Texas A&M University Texas Tech University
Profession	Attorney

From 1988 to 1993, Wentworth was a member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 123. He won a special election on May 7, 1988, called when Republican Representative Kae T. Patrick of San Antonio resigned during his fourth term.

In 2010, Wentworth wrote to Chairman Ron Blatchley (Chairman of the Texas State University System Board of Regents) a scathing letter from a sitting State Senator expressing his unhappiness with the Texas State University System Board of Regents decision to appoint State Rep. Brian McCall as the Chancellor of the Texas State University System over him. In the letter, Wentworth expressed a strong disagreement with McCall's appointment and repeatedly states that he authored the bill that changed the name of Southwest Texas State University (SWT) to Texas State University-San Marcos (TSU-SM) - an unpopular bill among the vast majority of SWT alumni with suggestions throughout he expected this appointment in part due to carrying this legislation, having it killed in one sub-committee, re-introducing the bill in a rush before another unrelated sub-committee to finally get it passed. Opposition to the bill was not limited to SWT alumni but also included dozens and dozens of Texas Southern University (TSU) faculty, students and alumni aligned with SWT alumni.^[3]

In 2012, Wentworth was defeated in his bid for re-nomination. In the Republican primary runoff held on July 31, he lost to Tea Party candidate Donna Campbell, who amassed 45,292 votes (66.2 percent) to Wentworth's 23,168 (33.8 percent).^[4]

Wentworth and his wife Karla, a licensed professional interior designer, have two sons, Jason and Matthew Wentworth. After his term in the state Senate, Wentworth was appointed to the position of Precinct 3 justice of the peace by the Bexar County Commission.^[5][6]

Election history

Senate election history of Wentworth.^[7]

2012

Republican primary, 2012: Senate District 25^[8]

Candidate		Votes	%	±
✓	Donna Campbell	45,292	66.15%
	Jeff Wentworth (Incumbent)	23,168	33.84%
Majority
Turnout		68,460

2010

Texas general election, 2010: Senate District 25^[9]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Jeff Wentworth (Incumbent)	192,965	82.17	not reported
	Libertarian	Arthur Maxwell Thomas, IV	40,972	17.44	not reported
	Independent	Eric R. Anderson	885	0.37	not reported
	Democratic	No candidate on ballot	0	0	not reported
Turnout			234,822	not reported	not reported

2006

Texas general election, 2006: Senate District 25^[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Jeff Wentworth (Incumbent)	132,872	58.32	-8.41
	Democratic	Kathleen "Kathi" Thomas	84,816	37.23	+7.03
	Libertarian	James R. "Bob" Thompson	10,137	4.45	+1.38
Majority			48,056	21.09	-15.45
Turnout			227,825		+11.14
	Republican hold

2002

Texas general election, 2002: Senate District 25^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Jeff Wentworth (Incumbent)	136,802	66.73	-20.70
	Democratic	Joseph "Joe" P. Sullivan	61,899	30.20	+17.63
	Libertarian	Rex Black	6,293	3.07	+3.07
Majority			74,903	36.54	-38.32
Turnout			204,994		-36.86
	Republican hold

Republican primary, 2002: Senate District 25^[12]

Candidate		Votes	%	±
	John H. Shields	25,265	48.83
✓	Jeff Wentworth (Incumbent)	26,481	51.17
Majority		1,216	2.35
Turnout		51,746

2000

Texas general election, 2000: Senate District 25^[13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Jeff Wentworth (Incumbent)	283,857	87.43	-12.57
	Libertarian	George Meeks	40,806	12.57	+12.57
Majority			243,051	74.86	-25.14
Turnout			324,663		+45.11
	Republican hold

1996

Texas general election, 1996: Senate District 25^[14]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Jeff Wentworth (Incumbent)	223,739	100.00	+24.97
Majority			223,739	100.00	+46.58
Turnout			223,739		+5.10
	Republican hold

Republican primary, 1996: Senate District 25^[15]

Candidate		Votes	%	±
	Randy Staudt	24,930	29.54
✓	Jeff Wentworth (Incumbent)	59,476	70.46
Majority		34,546	40.93
Turnout		84,406

1994

Texas general election, 1994: Senate District 25^[16]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Jim Saunders	53,152	24.97	-26.78
	Republican	Jeff Wentworth (Incumbent)^[17]	159,729	75.03	+26.78
Majority			106,577	50.06	+46.58
Turnout
	Republican gain from Democratic

Republican primary, 1994: Senate District 25^[18]

Candidate		Votes	%	±
	Van Archer	21,341	39.66
✓	Jeff Wentworth (Incumbent)	32,473	60.34
Majority		11,132	20.69
Turnout		53,814

1992

Texas general election, 1992: Senate District 26^[19]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Carlos Higgins	73,303	33.40
	Republican	Jeff Wentworth	146,159	66.60
Majority			72,856	33.20
Turnout			219,462
	Republican hold

Republican primary runoff, 1992: Senate District 26^[20]

Candidate		Votes	%	±
	Alan Schoolcraft	10,388	47.30	^[21]+12.59
✓	Jeff Wentworth	11,574	52.70	+18.98
Majority		1,186	5.40
Turnout		21,962

Republican primary, 1992: Senate District 26^[22]

Candidate		Votes	%	±
	Jim Canady	1,547	3.71
	John Fisher	7,222	17.30
	George Boyd Pierce	4,407	10.56
✓	Alan Schoolcraft	14,490	34.71
✓	Jeff Wentworth	14,076	33.72
Turnout		41,742

References

1. . Texas State Cemetery. Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2007-01-03.
2. Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) (2002-09-13). . Archived from the original on 2008-02-13. Retrieved 2006-12-27.
3. Wentworth's Letter, static.texastribune.org. Accessed May 24, 2023.
4. Ward, Mike (1 August 2012). . Austin American-Statesman. Archived from the original on 4 August 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
5. San Antonio Express-News, November 21, 2012
6. Karen Olsson (November 2002). "Mr. Right". Texas Monthly. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
7. Uncontested primary elections are not shown.
8. "2012 Republican Party Primary Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Retrieved 2012-08-01.
9. . Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2011-02-02.
10. . Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2007-01-04.
11. . Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2007-01-04.
12. . Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2007-01-04.
13. . Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2007-01-04.
14. . Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2007-01-04.
15. . Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2007-01-04.
16. . Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2007-01-04.
17. Wentworth was the District 26 incumbent prior to the 1994 Senate redistricting.
18. . Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2007-01-04.
19. . Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2007-01-05.
20. . Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2007-01-05.
21. Change from primary election
22. . Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2007-01-05.

External links

• official TX Senate website
• Project Vote Smart - Senator Earl Jeffrey 'Jeff' Wentworth (TX) profile
• Follow the Money - Jeff Wentworth
  • 2006 2004 2002 2000 campaign contributions
• Appearances on C-SPAN

Texas House of Representatives
Preceded by Kae T. Patrick	Member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 123 (San Antonio) 1988 – 1993	Succeeded by Frank Corte Jr.
Texas Senate
Preceded by Cyndi Taylor Krier	Texas State Senator from District 26 (San Antonio) 1993 – 1995	Succeeded by Gregory Luna
Preceded by Bill Sims	Texas State Senator from District 25 (San Antonio) 1995 - 2013	Succeeded by Donna Campbell
Preceded by Jane Nelson	President pro tempore of the Texas Senate 20 April 2004–11 January 2005	Succeeded by Florence Shapiro