Ryan Anthony Guillen (born October 27, 1977) is an American politician serving as the Texas State Representative for House District 31, which includes Starr, Wilson, Karnes, Duval, Brooks, Jim Hogg, Kenedy, La Salle, Live Oak, McMullen and Zapata counties.
Guillen grew up working at his family's feed store and farm. He went on to receive an Bachelor of Science in agriculture from Texas A&M University and briefly teach high school agriculture before pursuing public office.
Guillen was first elected in 2002 at the age of 24, making him one of the youngest ever elected to the Texas House of Representatives. He has served in continuous consecutive sessions of the Texas Legislature since he first took office in January 2003.
Guillen was first elected as, and served nine terms as, a Democrat. During that time, he often voted with his Republican colleagues on core conservative social issues such as gun control and abortion rights. In November 2021, Guillen announced he was switching parties, a move that strengthened the Republican majority in the Texas statehouse.
Guillen has been appointed to multiple standing, select and interim committees throughout his tenure in the Texas House, and has been appointed as chair or vice-chair under four different speaker administrations:
89th Legislature: Agriculture & Livestock (Chair); Redistricting; State Affairs
88th Legislature: Homeland Security and Public Safety (Chair); State Affairs; Select, Community Safety (Chair)
87th Legislature: Agriculture & Livestock; Licensing and Administrative Procedures; Redistricting; Resolutions Calendars (Chair)
86th Legislature: Licensing and Administrative Procedures; Resolutions Calendars (Chair), Ways and Means (Vice Chair)
85th Legislature: Licensing and Administrative Procedures (Vice Chair); State Affairs
84th Legislature: Culture, Recreation, and Tourism (Chair); Licensing and Administrative Procedures
83rd Legislature: Culture, Recreation, and Tourism (Chair); Licensing and Administrative Procedures; Study Water Desalination (Joint Interim)
82nd Legislature: Cruise Industry Development; Culture, Recreation, and Tourism (Chair); Election Contest District 48, Select; Public Education; Public School Finance System; Oversight of Windstorm Insurance
81st Legislature: Border and Intergovernmental Affairs; Oversight of Windstorm Insurance; Transportation; Transportation Funding, Select (Chair, Subcommittee on Planning and Accountability)
80th Legislature: Appropriations (Vice Chair); Calendars; Higher and Public Education Finance, Select; Natural Resources
79th Legislature: Appropriations; Appropriations Subcommittee on Education; Election Contests, Select; Financial Institutions (Budget and Oversight Chair)
78th Legislature: Election Contests, Select; Land and Resource Management; Regulated Industries
General Election 2024: HD 31
General Election 2022: HD 31
Republican Primary Election 2022: HD 31
General Election 2020: HD 31
General Election 2018: HD 31
Democratic Primary Election 2018: HD 31
General Election 2016: HD 31
General Election 2014: HD 31
General Election 2012: HD 31
General Election 2010: HD 31
General Election 2008: HD 31
General Election 2006: HD 31
General Election 2004: HD 31
General Election 2002: HD 31
Democratic Primary Runoff Election 2002: HD 31
Democratic Primary Election 2002: HD 31