Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan Withdraws from Race for Third Term
In a surprising turn of events, Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, a Republican from Beaumont, announced his withdrawal from the race for Speaker of the Texas House. This decision comes after Phelan failed to secure a majority of the votes in the March primary election, receiving only 43% of the votes. Despite this setback, he managed to secure victory in a runoff on May 28, narrowly defeating David Covey with 50.7% of the votes.
Phelan, who has served as the house speaker for nearly four years since January 2021, expressed his belief that stepping aside would provide an opportunity for the members to rally around a new candidate who will uphold the core principles of the House. In a statement, Phelan emphasized the importance of honor, integrity, and the right of every member to vote according to their district’s needs.
Moving forward, Phelan stated that he intends to continue serving in the Texas House of Representatives and looks forward to collaborating with his colleagues to nominate a candidate who can unite the House effectively. The focus remains on ensuring that the chamber remains a beacon of integrity and conservative leadership in the upcoming 89th Legislature.
### Republicans To Select New Nominee
With Phelan’s withdrawal, Republicans are expected to pick a new nominee on Saturday. According to caucus rules, the candidate who secures at least 60% of the votes will receive the group’s endorsement and the support of all 88 Republican members during the full House vote in January.
### State Rep. Dustin Burrows Enters the Race
State Rep. Dustin Burrows, a Republican from Lubbock, has filed paperwork to run for speaker, adding another layer of intrigue to the already dynamic political landscape.
### Texas House Democrats Respond
Following Phelan’s announcement, the Texas House Democrats released a statement reaffirming their commitment to addressing critical issues affecting Texans, such as struggling public schools, unregulated price gouging after disasters, and the protection of bodily autonomy.
As the political landscape in Texas continues to evolve, the race for the next Speaker of the Texas House promises to be a pivotal moment in shaping the future direction of the state’s legislative agenda. Stay tuned for more updates as the story unfolds.