The Texas Legislature will be back in session in mid January. Yet, with less than a month until kickoff, the state鈥檚 Republicans are still undecided on who they want to be the next Texas House speaker, reflecting deeper divisions in the party.
The majority of House Republicans, R-Mansfield, for the powerful role, while a smaller 鈥� but still significant 鈥� portion support Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock.
At first glance, Reps. Cook and Burrows appear very similar. Each of their voting records align with conservative principles: Both voted for Texas鈥� , the state鈥檚 for minors and
But the split over who to support reflects a larger, decade-long struggle among the state鈥檚 GOP lawmakers.
鈥淚t has been this battle between what you would call the traditional Republicans 鈥� the business Republicans 鈥� and what is now the MAGA Republicans,鈥� said Sherri Greenberg, a former Texas House member and current assistant dean of UT Austin鈥檚 Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs.
It鈥檚 unbelievable what is happening in Texas right now. There is a group of so-called Republicans cutting a deal with liberal Democrats to elect a speaker instead of uniting behind the Republican nominee, ! Unbelievable! Republicans have a mandate!
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr)
Or, as James Henson of UT Austin鈥檚 Texas Politics Project calls it, a fight of 鈥渃onservative versus the very conservative.鈥�
The MAGA Republicans Greenberg mentioned are backing Cook. Even Donald Trump Jr. recently voiced his support for Cook on social media.
Greenberg said one key difference is that Cook wants to break with the longstanding practice of having Democrats chair influential committees in the chamber.
鈥淭hey believe that there should be a break from this tradition of the minority party, and here that being the Democrats, having any ability to have any role in leadership,鈥� Greenberg said. 鈥淭hey believe that the Democrats should no longer be appointed chairs of any of the committees.鈥�
Rep. Tom Oliverson, R-Cypress, a Cook supporter, talked about the old practice at a Texas Tribune event earlier this year saying that, 鈥淣obody does it this way anymore鈥�.
鈥淚 just don't think that really applies anymore,鈥� Oliverson said. 鈥淵ou can go around this country and you can talk to Democrats from New York to California, from Alaska to Florida. I work with them all at the national level, and they think we're crazy for doing it this way.鈥�
However, it does seem both Republican speaker candidates are on the same page around the issue.
While not substantiated, there are Burrows has told the Democrats he鈥檚 courting for support that, were he to win the speakership, he won鈥檛 be appointing any of them as chairs.
But the simple fact he might be communicating or working with Democrats at all has upset some of Burrows鈥� Republican colleagues. Responding to the claims on X, Rep. Brian Harrison, R-Waxahachie, Burrows talking with Democrats a 鈥渂etrayal鈥� of Texas voters.
On the other hand, Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Plano, that Burrows has proven to be a steadfast conservative leader.
Lawmakers on social media are also saying Burrows has assured Democrats that he would ensure a school voucher bill doesn鈥檛 pass.
That鈥檚 one of the most obvious differences between Cook and Burrows, and it鈥檚 a big one. Gov. Greg Abbott has been in Texas for a few years. After efforts , Abbott to Republicans who voted against it.
Let me be clear:
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX)
I worked this entire year to elect conservative candidates who will pass conservative laws, including school choice.
To achieve that goal we need a Texas House Speaker chosen by a majority of Republicans in accordance with the Republican Caucus Rules.
Speaking to Fox 4 Dallas-Fort Worth after the March primaries, he felt, 鈥渃ertain school choice is going to pass this next session.鈥�
It should be noted that Abbott hasn鈥檛 endorsed either speaker candidate, but recently posted on X that the state needs a, 鈥淭exas House Speaker chosen by a majority of Republicans,鈥� which at this point would mean Cook.
And while each Texas House member is free to vote how they want, Republicans who vote against the majority would be breaking GOP caucus rules that require members to vote in unison.
Brandon Rottinghaus, a political scientist with the University of Houston, said Burrows' supporters could face serious consequences.
鈥淭he GOP leadership could ensure that the members who broke quorum would lose their committee assignments in the 89th session, and be censured for not supporting Cook, making them ineligible to run in 2026,鈥� Rottinghaus told The Texas Newsroom.
Others, though, think that鈥檚 an empty threat. UT Austin's Henson thinks that鈥檚 all talk.
鈥淚'm skeptical of, you know, the chest-beating and the thumping from the Republican Party of Texas,鈥� Henson said. 鈥淩emember, the formal party organization in Texas isn鈥檛 really the umbrella organization that the title implies.鈥�
We鈥檒l know whether Republican lawmakers currently backing Burrows are willing to call their party鈥檚 bluff once the Texas Legislature reconvenes on Jan. 14. The official vote for Texas House Speaker is expected that day.
Copyright 2024 KUT 90.5
