Texas state Rep. Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) announced on Friday that he will not seek reelection as Speaker of the Texas House. Phelan’s decision comes after claiming last month that he had enough support to defeat both Republican and Democratic challengers.
“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,” Phelan said in a statement. “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.”
The announcement was made a day before House Republicans were scheduled to vote in a party caucus to select their next leader. While the official speaker will not be sworn in until January, the caucus vote serves as a critical step in determining the party’s candidate. According to House rules, a candidate needs 60% of Republican caucus votes, or 53 members, to secure the nomination. On the House floor in January, 76 votes will be required to officially elect the speaker.
State Rep. David Cook (R-Mansfield) has emerged as a strong contender, claiming support from 49 Republican members. Meanwhile, state Rep. Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock), a close ally of Phelan, has reportedly filed paperwork to run for speaker and is expected to seek additional Republican and Democratic support.
Phelan, who served two terms as Speaker, presided over key conservative legislative achievements, including the Heartbeat Act, permitless carry of handguns, significant border security funding, and property tax relief. However, he faced criticism for his role in the impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton and the failure of a school choice bill during the last legislative session.
In his announcement, Phelan expressed gratitude to his supporters, saying, “Though the battle for my speakership is over, the war for the integrity of this chamber wages on – and we will win.” He also criticized external pressures seeking to influence the chamber’s processes.
Texas Democrats, who suffered significant losses in November’s elections, responded to Phelan’s withdrawal by emphasizing their commitment to addressing key issues in the upcoming legislative session, including public education, price gouging after disasters, and reproductive rights. The Democratic Caucus signaled openness to collaborating with any speaker candidate focused on these priorities.
The race for Texas House Speaker now enters a critical phase, with both parties seeking to position themselves ahead of the 2025 legislative session.
