DALLAS — In a stunning development Friday morning, the incumbent speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, Dade Phelan, announced he would not seek re-election to the influential position after support from Republicans evaporated.
The move, which comes before tomorrow’s meeting of the House Republican Caucus to nominate a speaker, now leaves a power vacuum in the third-most powerful position in Texas government.
“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," he 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—a place where honor, integrity, and the right of every member to vote their district takes utmost precedent,” Speaker Phelan said in a statement on Friday morning.
Phelan, who represents the Beaumont area, won re-election to the chamber after a hard-fought primary battle. He will remain a member of the legislature, but no longer have the gavel on the dais.
After serving two-terms as speaker, Phelan lost support last year after he led the impeachment against Attorney General Ken Paxton, a fellow Republican. Other conservatives were upset with Phelan for continuing the tradition of allowing Democrats to chair some legislative committees – despite a Republican majority. Finally, Phelan had also pushed a measured form of school vouchers which Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Gov. Abbott, and other conservatives opposed.
Rep. Brian Harrison, who represents the Ellis County area, had called for Phelan to step down and called Friday's announcement a "welcome, and long overdue, victory that I'm proud to have helped deliver."
"However, Dade Phelan was not the central problem with the Texas House," Harrison said in a statement. "He was simply the most visible manifestation of it, and we must ensure he is not replaced by someone also beholden to the same swamp."
So, what happens now? How did we get here? And who are the potential candidates to replace Phelan?
Let's walk through those questions:
How is the Texas House speaker elected?
Members of the majority party nominate a candidate for Speaker of the Texas House. That happens in a caucus meeting on Saturday.
But that nomination process is more tradition than absolute as any member can get nominated for the position on the first day of the legislative session in January.
After all nominations are announced publicly on the House floor next month, and the nominating speeches have ended, both Democrat and Republican members of the House will vote.
The winning candidate needs to earn 60% or more of the votes from the Republican caucus. Today, the support of all Republicans in the Republican-held House is now enough to secure the speaker position.
Phelan's leadership challenge
Dade Phelan was hoping to gain support from 40 unpledged House Republicans, which would be enough, along with votes from 62 Democrats, to win the speaker role for a third time, the Texas Tribune reported.
But Phelan apparently could not get that much support from fellow conservatives.
Who could be the next Texas House speaker?
Rep. David Cook, who was the former mayor of Mansfield before getting elected to the legislature, was already challenging Phelan.
Rep. Dustin Burrows, of Lubbock, has also filed paperwork to run for speaker, according to the Texas Tribune.
Representatives James Frank, Tom Oliverson, Shelby Slawson and John Smithee were also running before consolidating support behind Cook. The question now is whether any of them might resurrect their candidacies.
With Phelan out, what does this mean to the politics of the Texas House?
Phelan’s departure likely means Democrats will no longer chair any legislative committees. In addition, Republican priorities like school choice might also have an easier path, depending on who gets elected as the next speaker.
This story is developing. Watch Inside Texas Politics on Sunday morning for the latest updates and analysis.