s . ▁ ▁Par mer ▁was ▁then ▁elected ▁as ▁a ▁state ▁sen ator ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 2 , ▁where ▁he ▁defeated ▁Andy ▁And u jar , ▁the ▁husband ▁of ▁State ▁Senator ▁Betty ▁And u jar , ▁the ▁first ▁Republican ▁woman ▁to ▁serve ▁in ▁the ▁state ▁Senate . ▁Par mer ▁served ▁on ▁the ▁Senate ▁comm itte es ▁of ▁( 1 ) ▁State ▁Affairs , ▁( 2 ) ▁Health ▁and ▁Human ▁Resources , ▁( 3 ) ▁Chair man ▁of ▁Inter g overn ment al ▁Rel ations , ▁( 4 ) ▁Cha ired ▁the ▁Special ▁Senate ▁Committee ▁on ▁Hung er ▁in ▁Texas ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 5 , ▁and ▁( 5 ) ▁Chair ▁of ▁Democratic ▁C au cus ▁of ▁Senate ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 7 . ▁In ▁ 1 9 8 9 , ▁Par mer ▁was ▁one ▁of ▁five ▁sen ators ▁to ▁serve ▁as ▁the ▁President ▁Pro ▁Temp ore , ▁having ▁preced ed ▁in ▁that ▁position ▁his ▁regional ▁colle ague , ▁Bob ▁Mc F ar land ▁of ▁Ar ling ton . ▁ ▁In ▁the ▁U . S . ▁Senate ▁race ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 0 , ▁Par mer ▁pol led ▁ 1 , 4 2 9 , 9 8 6 ▁votes ▁( 3 7 . 4 ▁ ▁percent ), ▁but ▁Gr amm ▁pre va iled , ▁ 2 , 3 0 2 , 3 5 7 ▁( 6 0 . 2 ▁percent ). ▁▁▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 8 8 , ▁at ▁the ▁age ▁of ▁forty - n ine , ▁Par