In a surprising turn of events, Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan announced on Friday that he is withdrawing from the race for a third term as speaker. This decision comes amid mounting pressure from the Republican Party’s hard-right factions and backlash over the historic impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Phelan, a Republican from Beaumont, has been a significant figure in Texas politics, overseeing the passage of stringent laws on abortion, immigration, and voting. However, his involvement in Paxton’s impeachment last year ignited discontent among conservatives, leading to an expensive re-election campaign and challenges to his leadership.
“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,” P … stated.
The impeachment proceedings against Paxton, initiated by the House over corruption accusations, culminated in his acquittal in the Senate. Nonetheless, efforts to unseat Phelan persisted, further intensified by the House’s failure to pass a school voucher bill and election outcomes favoring candidates opposing his leadership.
Phelan’s departure underscores the growing influence of hard-right conservatism within Texas’ GOP. Despite this, he will continue to serve out his … . The selection of a new speaker is slated for January, coinciding with Texas Republicans’ intent to align with President-elect Donald Trump’s policies.
Texas continues to be a leader in conservative legislation, with restrictive abortion laws and measures against gender-affirming care for transgender youth. The upcoming legislative session is expected to further reflect these priorities.
As the political landscape shifts, the focus now turns to who will assume the role of House Speaker and how this change will impact the direction of Texas’ legislative agenda.
