State Rep. David Cook, a Mansfield Republican, overcame a challenge from Rep. Dustin Burrows to secure the GOP caucus’ support for Speaker in the third round of voting in Austin on Saturday.
With 62 Republican lawmakers in attendance — Cook won the support of 48, while Burrows garnered 14.
“Thank you to all 62 members that fully participated in the process,” Cook said in brief remarks after the vote
Cook’s victory came just a day after incumbent Speaker Dade Phelan tossed in the towel on his reelection.
Burrows, Lubbock Republican, said late Saturday he has enough support from Democrats to win the Speaker election when the new Legislature is gaveled in next month.
“The speaker’s race is over,” Burrows said in a brief press conference following the GOP’s nomination of Cook.
“I have secured enough to be speaker of the House for the next session,” he insisted.
Earlier this year, the Republican Party of Texas State Executive Committee censured Phelan in a 55-4 vote because he allegedly demonstrated a “lack of fidelity to Republican principles and priorities. ”
The Republican Phelan was censured for his support of Democratic committee chairs and the impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Cook had experienced a groundswell of support from local conservatives in the run-up to the election.
“Dade Phelan has betrayed fellow Republicans repeatedly by ‘selling out’ to Democrats to get elected as speaker of the Texas House. Once elected, he paid back his Democrat friends by installing Democrat Chairs, promoting Democrat legislation, and & blocking Republican priorities. Texas elected a Republican majority to the House and deserve a real Republican as Speaker in 2025!” Fort Worth businesswoman Cheryl Bean told The Dallas Express.
“The reform movement is growing in the Texas House of Representatives. Even entrenched incumbents are admitting the system is designed to work against the people it was created to serve. I am happy to see the cesspool of Rep. Phelan supporters is shrinking,” said State Representative-elect David Lowe, a North Richland Hills Republican.
Burrows, a Lubbock Republican, entered the race against Cook after Phelan’s departure, aiming—like Phelan—to bring Democrats into the fold to secure the speakership.
In announcing the end of his Speaker candidacy, Phelan hoped such a coalition would hold when the new Legislature is sworn in.
“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,” Phelan said in a statement announcing his withdrawal from the race.