Mansfield Republican said Tuesday he intends to run for Texas House Speaker, becoming the to challenge the chamber鈥檚 current leader, Beaumont Republican .
Cook, who has served two terms in the House since 2021, made his announcement in an email to Republican incumbents and nominees seeking election to the chamber next year. The news was first reported by .
In his email, Cook committed to naming only Republicans as leaders of House committees, a crucial point to hard right GOP leaders who feel Phelan has ceded too much power to Democrats by continuing the chamber鈥檚 long-standing tradition of naming members of both parties to lead the legislative panels.
But Cook said Democrats will 鈥渉ave the opportunity work their bills and see them considered fairly, as preserving the rights of the minority party remains part of facilitating the orderly transactions of business in the Texas House.鈥�
State Reps. of Cyprus and of Stephenville have also thrown their hats in the ring.
Phelan has come under fire from grassroots social conservatives for being insufficiently conservative and working too closely with Democrats. Lt. Gov. has been a major Phelan critic and has helped fuel criticisms that Phelan works with Democrats to hold up conservative legislation, even as the House has passed landmark legislation loosening gun restrictions and tightening abortion laws under his leadership.
Cook said that a lack of communication between House leadership and members of the GOP caucus has stifled progress and caused frustration. He pledged to be 鈥渁ctively engaged and present鈥� in the chamber鈥檚 daily workings.
鈥淟eadership means not only setting the direction, but also being in the arena alongside each of you,鈥� Cook said. 鈥淢y philosophy is rooted in returning the power to the Members and fostering an environment where we can work together effectively.鈥�
Cook said political infighting, breakdowns in communication and a lack of transparency have left the GOP with a splintered caucus in the House. He said he wants to rebuild trust, maintain integrity and find unity within the caucus, which is expected to maintain a majority in the chamber in this November鈥檚 elections.
Without naming Phelan, Cook said 鈥渃hange at the top is needed to better align with the priorities of our Members and the people of Texas.鈥�
Cook also hinted that he would reform legislative processes in the chamber鈥檚 rules that 鈥渟low our work.鈥�
Notably, Phelan has taken heat from the right flank of his party for his support of , and for not taking a more active approach to pass school vouchers.
Cook voted in favor of Paxton鈥檚 impeachment though he to say he would have voted 鈥渘o鈥� on three of the 20 articles related to misuse of public resources, disregard of official duty and making false statements on official records. He also voted against a measure that removed school vouchers from an education funding bill.
This article originally appeared in at .
