Texas state House elects moderate Republican as speaker despite conservative objections

Texas state lawmakers on Tuesday elected a more moderate Republican candidate as its new House speaker, in a blow to the party's rising hard-conservative flank.  

Texas state Rep. David Cook was voted the state GOP’s nominee for House speaker in December, but state GOP Rep. Dustin Burrows, a close ally of former House Speaker Dade Phelan, won the speakership in an 85-55 vote on Tuesday with the help of the chamber's Democrats, according to The Hill.

“The duty bestowed upon me today as Speaker of the Texas House is one of immense responsibility and honor, and I thank each of my colleagues for their trust and vote of confidence,” Burrows said in a statement on X. “While the majority will guide our course, the House’s strength lies in its diversity, and my leadership will be dedicated to ensuring every voice is heard and every district represented this session.”

Cook's loss comes despite support from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and Texas GOP Chairman Abraham George.

"The removal of the disgraced and corrupt Dade Phelan as Speaker of the House is a positive step for Texas," Paxton said in a statement shared with Just the News. "His close ally, Dustin Burrows, was elected with the support of most Democrats after he refused to honor the rules of the Republican Caucus."

Paxton claimed that Texas Republican voters now expect Burrows to pass conservative legislation quickly, and vowed to continue to fight for reform in the state legislature.

"I’ve been fighting to reform the Texas House for over two decades and will not stop," Paxton concluded. "We have made incredible progress in the past two years and must remain steadfast and hold our representatives responsible for their actions this session."

Cook and Burrows both voted for Paxton’s impeachment in 2023, which passed the lower chamber, but the Senate acquitted the attorney general.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.