Wise County Republicans are calling on newly elected State Rep. Andy Hopper to vote for a House speaker who is dedicated to upholding the Republican Party of Texas’ platform.
The group states that because House Speaker Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) has continued the practice of appointing Democrats to chair committees, it is time for new leadership in the Texas House.
A resolution adopted by members of the Wise County Republican Party reads, “81.24% of Republican voters in the 2022 Republican Primary voted in support of the proposition which called for the Republican-controlled Texas Legislature to end the practice of awarding committee chairmanships to Democrats; and even with the huge support by Republican voters and knowing it was a Republican Legislative Priority, Speaker Dade Phelan appointed 9 Democrats to chair Committees in the 88th Session.”
Hopper (R-Decatur), who defeated State Rep. Lynn Stucky (R-Sanger) in the March primary election, ran on a platform of eliminating Democrat leadership in the Texas House.
The resolution calls on him to honor his campaign promise and upload Republican priorities.
Be it RESOLVED that we call our newly elected State Representative of House District 64 Andy Hopper to honor the overwhelming desire of Wise County Republicans and Republicans across Texas in only supporting a Speaker of the House who is committed to honor the will of the voters and the Republican Party of Texas and will only appoint Republicans to chair committees in the 89th Legislative Session.
Hopper told Texas Scorecard that he stands with the Wise County Republicans and will not vote for someone who supports Democrats in leadership positions.
“I ran for HD 64 because I believed that Wise and Denton counties deserve a Representative that will fight for the legislative priorities established by tens of thousands of voters who voted for ballot propositions in the 2022 and 2024 Republican Primary ballot, and the thousands of delegates at the Texas Republican Convention. Republicans across the state made it loud and clear that they want Republicans to lead and NOT cede power to Democrats in our Texas Legislature,” said Hopper. “Recently our Wise County Republican Party reaffirmed the will of Republican voters on this issue and I unequivocally and happily stand with these patriots.”
“There is no situation that I will vote for a candidate, either in caucus or on the floor of the Texas House, who has not pledged to only put Republicans in charge of Committees in the Texas House,” he concluded.
The resolution pledges to hold Hopper to his promises, writing that if Hopper violates the RPT’s platform by voting for a speaker who appoints Democrat chairs, the group will censure him.
Meanwhile in Central Texas, leaders of the Fayette County Republican Women are urging members to send a letter to State Rep. Stan Kitzman (R-Brookshire), asking that he support a speaker candidate “that is committed to real reform.”
“While respecting the Democrats’ rightful participation in the process, we feel that Democrat Chairs will negate our and the Governor’s legislative priorities. Further, we view the awarding of chairmanships to Democrats to be a betrayal of your fellow House Republicans, of the Republican Party, and to us, your constituents,” reads the letter. “Therefore, we are respectively asking you to make it clear that you will oppose any candidate for speaker of the Texas House who supports appointing Democrat committee chairs.”
Kitzman has not responded to a request for comment.