Introducing MP 'Bai Plu' Rangsima Rom, from former activist to politician exposing gray-area issues, rumored to be running for Speaker of the House against Sopon Sarum.
On 13 Mar 2026 GMT+7, it became clear that the election for Speaker of the House of Representatives and the first and second Deputy Speakers will take place on 15 Mar 2026 GMT+7, starting at 09:00. Initially, all 498 MPs will take their oath. The interim speaker will be MP Phairoj Lohsuntorn of the Pheu Thai Party, the oldest MP in the 27th House at age 90, before proceeding to elect the Speaker and then the Deputy Speakers.
The Bhumjaithai Party, a coalition leader under Anutin, will nominate MP Sopon Sarum from Buriram as Speaker and Ms. Mallika Jirapantwanich as the first Deputy Speaker. The Pheu Thai Party will nominate MP Lertsak Patanachayakul, a three-term MP from Loei, for the second Deputy Speaker.
However, the People’s Party (Pop) meeting resolved to nominate a candidate for Speaker but has not revealed the name yet. Rumors suggest it could be MP Rangsima Rom, a party-list MP and deputy leader of the People’s Party. It is therefore closely watched whether the People’s Party will indeed nominate Rangsima Rom on 15 Mar.
Meet MP Rangsima Rom, nicknamed Bai Plu, a Thai-American born on 31 May 1992, who will turn 34 in 2026. He was born in Kathu District, Phuket Province, but grew up in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. He is the son of Mark Rom, an American, and Napaporn House.
Education: Rangsima graduated from Tawitapisek School, earned a law degree from Thammasat University, and is currently pursuing a master's degree in law at Thammasat University.
Before entering politics, Rangsima was active with the Student Center for Democracy of Thailand. He joined the sandwich-eating protest on 22 June 2014, marking one month since the National Council for Peace and Order coup. He was also active in the Thammasat Free Democracy group, promoting democracy on campus and nationally, alongside many fellow activists. Later, after arrests near Bangkok Art and Culture Centre on 22 May 2015, he formed the New Democracy Movement (NDM), frequently representing the group to the media.
Rangsima joined the Future Forward Party with Piyarat Chongthep on 27 Oct 2018, running as party-list MP at number 16. He was elected in 2019, but after the party was dissolved, he and 53 other MPs joined the Move Forward Party with Pita Limjaroenrat, serving as deputy secretary-general and party spokesman.
In the 2023 election, Rangsima ran again as party-list MP for Move Forward at number 8 and was re-elected. Move Forward won 151 seats, the most in the House, but failed to form government. Pheu Thai formed a coalition government with other parties, while the People’s Party became the largest opposition party. On 7 Aug 2024, the Constitutional Court unanimously dissolved Move Forward and banned its executive members from politics, forcing remaining MPs to join the People’s Party (formerly Thinkagrao Chao Wilai Party).
During his time as MP, Rangsima chaired the Security Commission on State Affairs, Thai Border Affairs, National Strategy, and National Reform in the House. He was notable for leading parliamentary debates on issues such as ticket scalping, call center gangs, scammers, and the case of Ben Smith.
In the 2026 election, Rangsima was again elected as party-list MP for the People’s Party, marking his third consecutive term. Ranked eighth on the list, the People’s Party won 120 MPs overall and serves again as the opposition.
