The House Republican Caucus has named Rep. David Cook, a Mansfield Republican, as its pick for House speaker, but his opponent, fellow-Republican Rep. Dustin Burrows, says he has the votes to ultimately win the race when the next legislative session begins.
There’s still more than a month before the official speaker vote, with the legislative session starting Jan. 14. A speaker candidate needs 76 votes — a simple majority of the 150 representatives to win.
Though there was still some confusion Saturday evening over which candidate individual Republicans are backing and whether the candidates have enough votes to win their bids for speaker, a caucus meeting and endorsement vote offered the clearest picture yet were of where support lies.
Cook won the House Republican Caucus endorsement 48 to 14 after multiple rounds of voting, but only 62 of the 88 current and incoming House Republicans were there for the Saturday, Dec. 7 vote. Cook said 26 members chose to leave the meeting, which was held behind closed doors at the Texas Capitol.
“We will continue working with each and every member of the Texas House Republican Caucus, and I too look forward to having conversations with the Democrats with regard to any issues as a minority party,” Cook told reporters after the vote.
In another part of the Capitol, Burrows briefly addressed reporters in a news conference where he said he’d secured enough votes to win the official vote in January. Burrows said he has bipartisan support for the leadership role.
“I think it’s customary to announce the speaker’s race is over,” Burrows said.
The candidates later released dueling lists of supporters.
Cook’s list includes himself and 55 other Republican members and incoming members. He noted earlier that he’s asked those who do not want their names on his list to let him know so their names can be removed.
Burrows’ list includes himself and 75 current and incoming members — the number needed to win the January vote. Burrows list is made up of both Republicans and Democrats.
However, there are names of six Republicans that appear on both lists, creating confusion over the exact tally of votes each member has. At least one of the incoming members, Rep. Don McLaughlin, the former Uvlade mayor, has reportedly asked to be removed from Burrow’s list. Rep.-elect Paul Dyson, who will soon represent the College Station area, was also among those on both lists and said in a statement on social media that he’s supporting Cook.
Tarrant County members were not among those appearing on both lists.
Cook’s list of supporters included Rep. Nate Schatzline, a Fort Worth Republican, Rep. Tony Tinderholt, an Arlington Republican, and incoming Rep. David Lowe, a Republican filling the Fort Worth-area seat previously held by Rep. Stephanie Klick. All three confirmed their support for Cook in interviews with the Star-Telegram.
Burrow’s list included Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, a Southlake Republican, Rep. Charlie Geren, a Fort Worth Republican, and incoming Rep. John McQueeny, a Republican who will serve in the Fort Worth-area seat previously held by Rep. Craig Goldman. They did not immediately return requests for comment on Saturday.
Burrow’s list also included two of Tarrant County’s four Democratic House representatives: Rep. Salman Bhojani of Euless and Rep. Chris Turner of Grand Prairie. Turner confirmed in a text that he’s supporting Burrows. Bhojani did not immediately return a text seeking comment.
The speaker race developments are the latest in a heated contest that took a big turn the day prior when the current House speaker, Rep. Dade Phelan, a Beaumont Republican, announced he was exiting the race on Friday. Around the same time, Burrows entered it.
“I love this institution,” Burrows said to reporters on Saturday. “I love the House. It has given me many, many opportunities and chances to do great things, and this House has done great, great things together.”
Current House speaker, Rep. Dade Phelan, a Beaumont Republican, has faced criticism from some within his own party for his House leadership, particularly over his appointment of Democratic committee chairs (something that’s been done historically in the House) and the House’s impeachment of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who was later acquitted in a Senate trial.
“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,” Phelan said in a statement Friday announcing he was leaving the race.
Cook has positioned himself as the “reform” candidate, calling for a “shift to a Republican committee chair model” and leadership that better reflects the will of the majority party.
Members could be seen entering and exiting the room where the caucus was deliberating on who to support at points throughout the Saturday meeting.
House Republican Caucus Chair Tom Oliverson, a Cypress Republican, previously told the Star-Telegram that caucus bylaws call on members to support the caucus-endorsed nominee during the House floor vote .
“So, that’s the rules,” he said at the time. “We’ll see, right? But that is what the bylaws say.”
Democrats could have significant sway in who wins the leadership role if the Republican caucus is fractured during the official speaker election vote in January.
In a statement late Friday, the Democratic Caucus announced it is opposing Cook’s bid. Two Democrats — Rep. Ana-María Rodríguez Ramos (Richardson) and Rep. .John Bryant (Dallas) — have filed paperwork with the Texas Ethics Commission saying their seeking the speakership.
A few hours into the Saturday Republican Caucus meeting, the Democratic caucus said it had been in talks with Burrows and Democratic members were free to support the speaker candidate of their choosing.
“Texas House Democrats have remained united throughout the Speaker’s race. Because of our unity, Democrats will help govern in a bipartisan Texas House that recognizes traditional institutional norms,” the statement reads. “After extensive discussions with Chairman Burrows, Democratic members have been released to support the Speaker candidate of their choice, except for David Cook. Democrats have been assured that the bipartisan traditions of the Texas House will continue. “
Cook served as Mansfield mayor from 2008 to 2021. He joined the House in 2021. His district includes a small part of Fort Worth and parts of Arlington, Burleson and Mansfield.
Cook reiterated his commitment to not allowing Democratic chairs when addressing reporters on Dec. 7.
“I think this is still a race,” Cook said.
Source: https://www.aol.com/north-texan-speaker-texas-house-225003087.html
