Ben Barnes Political Career

Former politician and Lt. Governor of Texas Ben Barnes was the face of Texas politics in the 1960s and early 70s. Ben Barnes rose rapidly in the legislature. In 1961, at the age of 21, Ben Barnes became a state representative in Texas. By 1963, Ben Barnes had become chairman of the Rules Committee. In 1965 Ben Barnes became Speaker of the House in Texas, a post he obtained at the age of 26 and held until he became Lieutenant Governor in 1969. Ben Barnes also served as a United States representative to NATO and then as a UN representative to Geneva in 1968. Ben Barnes held the position of Lieutenant Governor until 1973. In a thirteen year span of Ben Barnes’ political career, Ben Barnes broke records in popularity, process, and as the youngest person to hold a number of prominent offices.

Becoming Lt. Governor was the height of Ben Barnes’ political career. In the Texas Constitution, the Lt. Governor wields a considerable amount of power, and has been called the most powerful position in Texas government. With his election to the Lt. Governor of Texas, Ben Barnes joined a long list of Lt. Governors of Texas. He was known for his ability to get along with everyone and for his commitment to bipartisanship. In 2006, Ben Barnes wrote a book entitled Barn Burning Barn Building, which offers an insightful perspective into Ben Barnes take on politics during his time and today.

Lieutenant Governors of Texas other than Ben Barnes include the following figures:

  • Ben Ramsey
    1951 - 1963
  • Preston E. Smith
    1963 - 1969
  • Ben Barnes
    1969 - 1973
  • William Pettus Hobby, Jr.
    1973 - 1991
  • Robert D. Bullock
    1991 - 1999
  • James Richard Perry
    1999 - 2000 Perry
  • Bill Ratliff
    2000 - 2003
  • David Dewhurst
    2003 - Present