State Rep. Dustin Burrows has released a new campaign video in his bid for Speaker.
The video extolls the Lubbock Republican’s willingness to work with Donald Trump on the border, expand school choice, and block foreign governments from gobbling up Texas land.
One thing the video doesn’t say is that Burrows lost the House GOP caucus vote for Speaker to Rep. David Cook (R-Mansfield), and he’s now trying to build an alliance with Democrats to secure enough votes for the speakership when the full legislature votes next month.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Cook won the GOP caucus’ endorsement for Speaker, securing 48 votes out of the 88 caucus members. Burrows garnered 14 votes of support in the third and final round of voting. Although Cook won the nomination, some caucus members walked out of the meeting after the first two rounds of voting and did not participate in the third round.
The video created by The American Opportunity PAC, founded in November, does not mention the division within the GOP caucus or the role Democrats would need to play in pushing Burrows over the top.
“Texans need a Speaker they can count on. Our new digital campaign shows why Dustin Burrows is the ONLY choice for conservative leadership,” read a political text message reportedly from The American Opportunity PAC.
Despite the messaging, Burrows has been condemned by more than 100 county GOP chairs across the state of Texas for negotiating with Democrats, a move garnering criticism for undermining “the conservative agenda.”
“David Cook is a proven conservative who is committed to the Texas GOP legislative priorities and platform and to ending the long-standing practice of empowering Democrats with committee chairmanship. Unfortunately, a small group of Republicans chose to abandon the caucus process and, in doing so, the will of the Republican majority,” the letter said.
Burrows was also slammed by the Texas GOP Chair Abraham George.
“We’ve been waiting for Dustin Burrows to back down and support the caucus nominee. Instead, he’s doubling down by colluding with Democrats. If you openly cut deals with Democrats to undermine Republican priorities, we will inform your voters. The TV ad is starting in the Lubbock area tomorrow. More to come,” George said on X.
Some have criticized Burrows’ political ad.
“There is nothing conservative about Dustin Burrows. He is bought and paid for by the TX Democrat Party. The agreement was to kill Gov Abbott’s school choice for their support. He is terrible on property taxes. The guy really should just switch parties,” Thomas Marchetti posted on X.
The Dallas Express reached out to Burrows’ office but did not receive a response.