James White

Texas Monthly named White a Top Lawmaker in June 2019 for his work during Texas' 86th Legislative Session.

In the general election held on November 6, 2018, White overwhelmed his Democratic opponent, Sherry Williams, 49,926 (83.2 percent) to 10,070 (16.8 percent).

In 2017, White introduced the Texas Hero Protection Act, which would impose fines and jail time upon those who remove monuments and buildings named for Texas war heroes, including those who fought for the Confederate States of America. The measure would also protect African-American monuments, such as those of Buffalo soldiers. Current law establishes no penalties for removal of monuments and does not designate a legal procedure by which to move or remove monuments.

In the 2013 legislative session, White voted to ban abortion after twenty weeks of gestation; the measure was approved 96-49. He co-sponsored companion legislation to increase medical and licensing requirements of abortion providers. In 2016, the Texas law was struck down as unconstitutional. Texas Right to Life rated White 78 percent favorable in 2013 and 74 percent in 2011.

In 2013, Phyllis Schlafly's Eagle Forum, managed in Texas by Cathie Adams, a former state chairman of the Texas Republican Party, rated White 93 percent favorable. Young Conservatives of Texas ranked him 80 percent. The interest group, Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, founded by Michael Quinn Sullivan, assigned White a score of 91 percent in 2013 and 100 percent in 2011. The Texas Association of Business gave him an 87 percent score in 2013. He ranked 53 percent from the Texas League of Conservation Voters and 92 percent from the National Rifle Association.

Running in House District 12 in 2010, White unseated the Democratic incumbent, Jim McReynolds, 20,958 (57.6 percent) to 15,405 (42.4 percent). Switched to District 19 in 2012, White unseated in the Republican primary the 10-year incumbent Mike "Tuffy" Hamilton of Lumberton in Hardin County. White polled 10,190 votes (54.5 percent) to Hamilton's 8,503 (45.5 percent). White then ran without Democratic opposition in the general election held on November 6, 2012.

In 2000, he obtained a Master of Education degree from Prairie View. In 2010 and 2012, respectively, he received a Master of Science and a Ph.D. from the University of Houston.

Born and reared in Houston, Texas, White attended public school and graduated in 1982 from Lamar High School. In 1986, White procured a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and Military Science from the historically black Prairie View Agricultural and Mechanical University in Prairie View, Texas. From 1986 until 1992, he served in the United States Army as a commissioned officer in the infantry. Thereafter, he taught in the public school system in the Houston area and was a guest columnist for Headway Magazine.

James Earl White (born July 16, 1964) is a Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives for District 19, which encompasses Polk, Hardin, Jasper, Newton, and Tyler counties. He was first elected in District 12 in 2010, which then included Angelina, San Jacinto, Trinity, and Tyler counties.