AUSTIN, Texas — Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan survived a tough challenge and avoided an ouster that could have upended the Republican-controlled Legislature.
Phelan angered conservatives for leading the 2023 impeachment of state Attorney General Ken Paxton, who was later acquitted in a Senate trial and then set out to remove those who voted against him.
A shakeup in the Texas Capitol could still lay ahead. Although the victory keeps Phelan on the ballot in his southeast Texas district, the bruising primary fight leaves questions about his ability to retain the powerful speakership.
He rebounded to win the runoff after finishing second in March to challenger David Covey, a former local party chairman and oil and gas consultant.
At his election night party, Phelan declared victory in what he called “a terrible, awful, knockdown, drag-out” fight and told supporters he will remain speaker.
“I think this runoff did me a favor,” Phelan said. “It let my voters know what my real record is.”
The race was a snapshot of fractures within the GOP nationally. Phelan, who has been speaker since 2021, came under fire after his chamber voted last year to impeach Paxton on bribery and corruption charges. Paxton was later acquitted in the state Senate.
Phelan presided over votes that enacted some of the toughest anti-abortion laws in the country, vastly expanded gun rights, supported Gov. Greg Abbott’s highly visible anti-immigration platforms and curtailed LGBTQ+ rights.
Read the statement Phelan issued following his runoff victory:
Tonight, I am immensely grateful to the voters of Southeast Texas, who have spoken loud and clear: in Southeast Texas, we set our own course—our community is not for sale, and our values are not up for auction. I owe a profound debt of gratitude to every voter and volunteer whose relentless dedication turned that vision into tonight’s resounding victory.
This outcome would also not have been possible without the unwavering support of my family, whose strength and encouragement have been a daily source of inspiration, and the robust coalition of our local leaders, whose endorsements reiterate that the strength of local politics still prevails, and no amount of external pressure can erode a foundation built on community trust and proven results.
With the conclusion of the runoff, my sights are now set firmly on the November election. I look forward to hitting the ground running to ensure the Texas House is best positioned for what promises to be another landmark conservative session, bolstered by as strong a Republican majority as possible.
Thank you, House District 21, for your confidence in me—I am honored to be your advocate and look forward to earning your vote once again in November. Together, we move forward, focused, determined and stronger than ever.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's statement following Phelan's win
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton also released a statement, with a warning to Texas House members about making Phelan speaker in 2025.