After weeks of ongoing debates and political battles, the vote for Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives is set for Tuesday.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, State Rep. David Cook (R-Mansfield) won the GOP caucus’ endorsement for Speaker, securing 48 votes out of the 88 caucus members in the third round of voting.
Rep. Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock) garnered 14 votes in the third round. Some caucus members walked out of the meeting after the first two rounds of voting and did not participate in the third round.
In response, Burrows released a list of 76 supporters, including 38 Republicans and 38 Democrats. To win the Speaker’s race, a state representative needs 76 votes to win the majority of the 150 House member votes.
Both candidates have launched advertising campaigns, each claiming to be the most conservative choice.
“Texans need a Speaker they can count on. Our new digital campaign shows why Dustin Burrows is the ONLY choice for conservative leadership,” one political text message reportedly from The American Opportunity PAC said.
Another ad, however, was critical of Burrows’ record:
“But when Republicans rejected his bid to be speaker, Burrows broke that promise,” the Texas GOP’s December ad said. “Dustin Burrows sold us out because he is only looking out for himself,” the ad said.
Cook has received strong backing from the majority of the Republican caucus and, more recently, the endorsement of Democrat State Rep. Richard Raymond. However, Raymond has faced backlash from the State Democratic Executive Committee, which has threatened to censure him for supporting Cook. Half of the Democratic caucus, meanwhile, has endorsed Burrows.
In addition to these endorsements, Cook has garnered support from Donald Trump Jr., who criticized Burrows’ bipartisan backing.
“It’s unbelievable what is happening in Texas right now. There is a group of so-called Republicans cutting a deal with liberal Democrats to elect a speaker instead of uniting behind the Republican nominee, @DavidCookTexas! Unbelievable! Republicans have a mandate!” Trump Jr. wrote on X in December.
Burrows has been slammed by Republican elected officials for his financial ties to Third Coast Bank, whose largest shareholders are Vanguard and Blackrock.
“The idea that potentially THREE Texas House Speakers in a row have been financially tied to the SAME BlackRock affiliated bank is more suited for the next Taylor Sheridan drama than it is for the Texas House. Is this Third Coast Bank cabal our real-life Texas House of Cards?” Attorney General Ken Paxton wrote on X.
Lt. Governor Dan Patrick also criticized Burrows and Speaker Dade Phelan.
“They treat members like employees, not like equally elected House members,” Patrick wrote on social media, comparing the group to a “non-criminal version of the Goodfellas.”
Speaker Phelan quickly reacted, posting on his X account that the allegations were “ridiculous and completely disingenuous.”
The Dallas Express reached out to Cook and Burrows for comment but did not receive a response.
This story is ongoing and will be updated accordingly.