Lizzie Fletcher

Lizzie Fletcher
Born	Elizabeth Ann Pannill 13 2, 1975
Birthplace	Houston, Texas, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Attorney, politician
Known for	U.S. Representative for Texas's 7th congressional district
Education	Kenyon College (BA) College of William & Mary (JD)
Website	[https://fletcher.house.gov/ Official site]

Elizabeth Ann Fletcher (née Pannill; born February 13, 1975) is an American attorney and politician who has served as the U.S. Representative for Texas's 7th congressional district since January 3, 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, Fletcher represents a district that includes parts of southwestern Houston and Harris County, as well as northern portions of Fort Bend County. The district was once represented by former President George H. W. Bush, and for more than two decades by Republican John Culberson, whom Fletcher defeated in the 2018 general election. Born and raised in Houston, Fletcher practiced law for over a decade before entering politics, working as a litigator and becoming a partner at a Houston law firm. Her 2018 campaign drew national attention as part of a broader wave of Democratic electoral gains in suburban districts across the United States, and her victory marked the first time a Democrat had won the 7th district since its creation in 1967. In Congress, Fletcher has focused on issues affecting the Houston area, including energy policy, flood mitigation, and infrastructure. As of 2026, she continues to serve in the House and has been an active voice in legislative debates over trade policy and federal funding.

Early Life

Elizabeth Ann Pannill was born on February 13, 1975, in Houston, Texas. She grew up in Houston and has familial roots in the city. Her sister is the novelist Katherine Center. Fletcher was raised in a family with ties to the Houston community, and she attended local schools before pursuing her higher education outside of Texas.

Houston's 7th congressional district, which Fletcher would later represent, has a political history closely associated with the Republican Party. The district was held by George H. W. Bush from 1967 to 1971, and subsequently by Republican members of Congress for over five decades. Fletcher grew up in this politically conservative suburban environment, which shaped her understanding of the district's priorities and demographics.

Education

Fletcher attended Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. She subsequently enrolled at the William & Mary Law School at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, where she earned her Juris Doctor degree. During her time at William & Mary, Fletcher served on the William and Mary Law Review, where she held a position on the journal's masthead. Her legal education provided the foundation for a career in litigation that would span more than a decade before she entered public service.

Career

Legal Career

After completing her law degree, Fletcher returned to Houston to practice law. She worked as a commercial litigator, eventually becoming a partner at a Houston-based law firm. Her legal practice focused on business disputes and commercial litigation. Fletcher's experience in the legal profession informed her later approach to legislating, which she described as pragmatic and focused on problem-solving.

Her legal career gave Fletcher standing as a candidate who was not a career politician but rather a professional with experience in the private sector. This background became a key element of her political identity when she later decided to run for Congress.

2018 Congressional Campaign

Fletcher entered the race for Texas's 7th congressional district in 2018, seeking to challenge the incumbent Republican congressman John Culberson, who had held the seat since 2001. The 7th district had been a reliably Republican stronghold since its creation, having never elected a Democratic representative. However, changing demographics in the Houston suburbs and shifting political sentiments—particularly in the wake of Hurricane Harvey in 2017 and during the presidency of Donald Trump—created an opening for Democratic candidates.

The Democratic primary in the 7th district drew significant attention. Fletcher faced Laura Moser, a progressive activist and writer, in a competitive primary that became a proxy battle between the moderate and progressive wings of the Democratic Party. The primary advanced to a runoff election on May 22, 2018, where Fletcher prevailed, positioning herself as the Democratic nominee for the general election. Fletcher's campaign emphasized pragmatic, bipartisan solutions and focused on local issues such as flood control and health care, which resonated with voters in the suburban district.

The general election campaign between Fletcher and Culberson attracted national media coverage, with analysts viewing the race as emblematic of broader suburban shifts toward the Democratic Party. The Atlantic described the Houston race as a window into "the future of Texas politics," noting the district's evolving electorate. The Washington Post observed that Democrats in the district appeared to be running a disciplined, serious campaign aimed at winning over moderate and independent voters.

Fletcher won the November 2018 general election, defeating Culberson and becoming the first Democrat to represent the 7th congressional district. Her victory was part of a larger Democratic wave in the 2018 midterm elections, in which the party gained a net of 40 seats to retake the House majority.

2020 Re-election

Fletcher faced a competitive re-election campaign in 2020 against Republican challenger Wesley Hunt, a West Point graduate and U.S. Army veteran. The race was closely watched, as Republicans sought to reclaim the 7th district. Fletcher ultimately won re-election, securing another term in Congress.

Tenure in Congress

Since taking office on January 3, 2019, Fletcher has served on multiple congressional committees and participated in various caucuses. Her legislative work has centered on issues of particular importance to the Houston area and the state of Texas, including energy policy, flood mitigation and infrastructure, health care, and education.

Fletcher's approach in Congress has reflected the pragmatic, solutions-oriented style she emphasized during her initial campaign. Representing a district that includes a significant portion of Houston's energy sector workforce, she has engaged with energy policy from a perspective that acknowledges both economic and environmental considerations. The district's vulnerability to flooding, dramatically demonstrated by Hurricane Harvey, has also been a consistent priority in her legislative agenda.

As a member of the House, Fletcher has taken positions on a range of national issues. In early 2026, she voted in favor of H.J.Res.72, legislation aimed at terminating the national emergency declared by President Trump to impose tariffs on Canada, arguing that the tariffs were harmful to the economy. She also released a statement in February 2026 responding to a Supreme Court decision striking down President Trump's tariff authority, expressing support for the ruling.

In February 2026, Fletcher joined with Congressman Emanuel Cleaver and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse to lead a coalition of 81 members of Congress in pushing the courts to reverse the Trump Administration's termination of $250 million in solar funding designated for Harris County. This effort underscored Fletcher's focus on securing federal resources for her district and her engagement with energy and environmental policy.

Fletcher announced that on February 24, 2026, rather than attending the State of the Union Address delivered by President Trump, she would host a "listening session" in her district to discuss what she termed "the Real State of the Union," an event designed to hear directly from constituents about the issues affecting their lives.

Fletcher has also maintained engagement with the diverse communities within her district. In early 2026, her office participated in the 2026 Lunar New Year Carnival organized by the Chinese Cultural Service Center and the Southwest Administration Bureau, reflecting outreach to the district's Asian American community.

As part of her constituent services, Fletcher has annually facilitated nominations for appointments to U.S. Service Academies from the 7th congressional district. In January 2026, she announced her latest slate of nominees for the academies.

Electoral History

Fletcher's electoral record in the 7th congressional district reflects the competitive nature of the seat. After her initial victory in 2018 over the long-serving Republican incumbent John Culberson, she successfully defended her seat in 2020 against Wesley Hunt. She has continued to win re-election in subsequent cycles, maintaining her hold on the district through multiple election years. Her Federal Election Commission filings document her ongoing campaign activities. Texas Secretary of State election records provide official results for her races.

Personal Life

Lizzie Fletcher is married and took the surname Fletcher upon marriage. Her birth name was Elizabeth Ann Pannill. She has lived in Houston for much of her life, both growing up in the city and returning there after completing her legal education to build her career and raise her family. Her sister, Katherine Center, is a novelist known for works of contemporary fiction.

Fletcher has been a member of the Houston community through both her legal career and her civic involvement. Her personal connection to the city and district she represents has been a consistent theme in her public life and political campaigns. She has spoken about the importance of local engagement and understanding the needs of Houston-area residents.

Recognition

Fletcher's 2018 victory in Texas's 7th congressional district received substantial national media coverage as one of the most significant Democratic gains of the midterm elections. Her win was featured in reporting by The Texas Tribune, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, The Hill, the Houston Chronicle, and numerous other outlets. The race was considered a bellwether for suburban political realignment in Texas and across the nation.

Her congressional career has been documented through C-SPAN's coverage of House proceedings and public appearances. Her official congressional record is maintained in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress and through the Congress.gov legislative information service.

OutSmart Magazine, a Houston-based publication, covered Fletcher's 2018 general election campaign, highlighting the competitive dynamics in the western Houston district.

Legacy

Fletcher's election in 2018 represented a historic shift in the political landscape of Texas's 7th congressional district. The district, created in 1967 and first held by George H. W. Bush before his presidency, had been a symbol of Republican strength in suburban Houston for more than fifty years. Fletcher's victory demonstrated the changing political preferences of suburban voters, particularly in diverse, metropolitan areas of Texas.

Her initial campaign and subsequent re-elections have been cited by political analysts as evidence of broader demographic and political trends in Texas, where rapidly growing suburban populations—including increasing numbers of college-educated voters, younger residents, and communities of color—have shifted the electoral calculus in districts once considered safely Republican. The 7th district race in 2018 became a case study for the viability of Democratic candidates in traditionally Republican suburban seats across the Sun Belt.

In Congress, Fletcher has positioned herself as a representative focused on local concerns and constituent engagement, an approach that reflects her stated commitment to pragmatic governance over partisan ideology. Her continued representation of the district through multiple election cycles has confirmed the durability of the political changes that brought her to office.