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Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan announced his withdrawal from seeking re-election to the leadership position for the upcoming legislative session, potentially reshaping the landscape for conservative legislation in the coming year.
Embattled Texas House Speaker @DadePhelan has announced that he is withdrawing from the re-election race for Speaker.
🔗 https://t.co/976iUoOi6S pic.twitter.com/qFbUoaAPdE
— The Dallas Express News (@DallasExpress) December 6, 2024
In a statement released Friday morning, Phelan expressed, “Out of deep respect for this institution and its members, and after careful consideration and private consultation with colleagues, I have made the difficult decision to withdraw from the race for Speaker of the Texas House. By stepping aside, I believe we create the best opportunity for our members to rally around a new candidate who will uphold the principles that make our House one of the most exceptional, deliberative legislative bodies in the country— a place where honor, integrity, and the right of every member to vote their district takes utmost precedent.”
Earlier this year, Phelan faced significant challenges, including a rare censure from the Republican Party of Texas, making him the fourth elected official to receive such action. His political struggles continued when he barely secured victory in a primary race, winning by just 366 votes.
The speaker race has now evolved into an anticipated contest between Representatives Duston Burrown from Lubbock and David Cook from Mansfield. The upcoming legislature’s composition includes 88 Republicans and 62 Democrats, with Cook’s supporters aiming to secure 76 Republican votes to clinch the speaker position independently of Democratic support.
According to Republican Caucus guidelines, securing 60% of votes at Saturday’s meeting would guarantee unified Republican support. Recent developments show Cook approaching this threshold, having gained backing from Representatives David Spiller and Trent Ashby, though still needing four more votes. Without reaching this mark, the speaker’s selection could require Democratic participation, needing only 14 Republican votes.
While stepping down from the speaker race, Phelan confirmed his commitment to his legislative role, pledging to collaborate with colleagues in selecting a leader who can unify the House and maintain its conservative direction in the 89th Legislature.
