Rep. Dustin Burrows is elected Texas House Speaker, winning with support from Democrats, amid GOP internal tensions.
The unusually public battle to helm the Texas House divided both Democratic and Republican lawmakers between Rep. Dustin Burrows and Rep. David Cook.
Rep. Cody Harris had accused Abraham George of improperly threatening to send mailers and censure lawmakers who backed Rep. Dustin Burrows as House speaker.
Sign up for The Brief, The Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, was elected speaker of the Texas House on Tuesday,
In a dramatic two-ballot vote Tuesday, Republican state Rep. Dustin Burrows of Lubbock clinched the title of speaker of the Texas House.
A contentious vote Tuesday ended a months-long battle that divided Texas lawmakers. Lubbock Republican State Rep. Dustin Burrows won the vote for House Speaker. But some of his opponents believe the fight is not over.
AUSTIN — Newly elected Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, struck a conciliatory tone in his victory speech after defeating David Cook, R-Mansfield in what split the GOP.
Since then, the vast majority of House speakers have been elected by acclamation or with more than 140 votes. Even Rep. Dade Phelan, whom hard-right Republicans forced from seeking a third term, received 143 votes in 2021 and 145 in 2023.
The trial lawyer from Lubbock has served in the House since 2015, slowly building his stature and overcoming a scandal in 2019.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who heads the Texas Senate, opposed Burrows’ run for Speaker. He has since released a statement saying both the house and senate are required to pass legislation and he’s “counting” on Burrows to pass conservative legislation.
Burrows bested challenger David Cook (R-Mansfield) in a runoff vote on the first day of the Texas Legislature in Austin.
Will Texas House Republicans pay for supporting Dustin Burrows for speaker? Passage of conservative priorities could remove the sting for primary voters