AUSTIN, Texas — David Cook of Mansfield is now the Texas GOP’s nominee for Speaker of the House, but Representative Dustin Burrows of Lubbock says he has enough votes to win the gavel.
After a five-and-a-half-hour vote behind closed doors at the Texas State Capitol, The Texas GOP has voted for David Cook of Mansfield to be the nominee for Speaker of the House. The vote went three rounds. Neither candidate received a two-thirds majority.
Before the third round, which only requires a three-fifths vote, 26 supporters of Dustin Burrows of Lubbock left the room, and did not return.
Cook called this a ‘play they were trying to make.’
“Please know you have my commitment that I want to keep working with you day and night between now and January 14th to unify the Texas House Republican caucus so that majority will prevail in the Texas House,” Cook said in reference to the people who left.
During Burrows post-vote press conference, he announced that he has enough Republican and Democrat votes to become the next Speaker.
“I have secured enough to be the Speaker of the House in the next session,” he said. “These members, who I can’t thank enough for putting their trust, faith, and support in me, to make sure that we deliver the results to all Texans.”
Cook said the race is not over.
Cook said he will use this time before January 14 to earn more Republican votes to win the gavel.
“Each and every Republican member has my commitment that those are the votes I’m coming after,” he said. “I would like to have their support by earning it between now and January 14.”
Burrows did not answer any questions at his press conference.
Source: https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/david-cook-voted-as-texas-house-republican-nominee-for-speaker-of-the-house
