(Texas Scorecard) – State Rep. John Smithee, a long-serving member of the Texas House, has filed to run for Speaker of the House.
This makes Smithee the fifth candidate to announce a challenge to current Speaker Dade Phelan. Like the others, he voted for Phelan in January 2023.
First elected in 1984, Smithee has represented Amarillo in the Texas House for nearly 40 years. Under speakers Tom Craddick and Joe Straus, he chaired the powerful Committee on Insurance and then the Committee on the Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence. He chaired no committees under the speakerships of Dennis Bonnen and Dade Phelan.
During the last session, Smithee was an outspoken critic of the process employed to impeach Attorney General Ken Paxton. He notably delivered a speech to members that Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick later praised.
Smithee joins State Reps. Tom Oliverson, Shelby Slawson, David Cook, and James Frank in challenging Phelan for the position. Cook and Frank both voted for impeachment, while Slawson joined Smithee in opposing; Oliversion was not present for the vote.
Incoming Republican members will select a candidate for speaker in caucus later this year. The official vote for speaker will take place on the first day of the legislative session, January 14, 2025.
This is a developing story.