Dade Phelan quits race amid conservative backlash
- Dade Phelan announced he will withdraw from consideration for the Texas House speaker position due to internal pressure from fellow Republicans.
- His support for the impeachment of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who maintains significant influence within the party, has created divisions among GOP members.
- This withdrawal opens up the opportunity for other candidates to rally support ahead of important votes scheduled for January.
In Texas, on December 6, 2024, Dade Phelan, the incumbent Republican representative, announced his withdrawal from the race to become the speaker of the Texas House of Representatives. Facing significant opposition from fellow Republicans who deemed him insufficiently conservative, Phelan's decision occurred just a day before the Texas House Republican Caucus was scheduled to meet and discuss their preferred candidate for the position. Phelan's support of the impeachment of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton further complicated his standing within the party, leading to primary challenges against those who voted for the impeachment. Phelan's narrow victory in his runoff election, won by only 366 votes, already indicated a divided Republican base. The Texas House Republican Caucus operates under bylaws that require any candidate to secure 60 percent of the vote from members—equivalent to 53 votes—to become the party's nominee for the role. With increasing divisions among House Republicans, many members had begun to rally behind potential challengers, including Representative David Cook of Mansfield. This internal strife highlights a growing divide within the Republican Party in Texas, posing challenges for party unity as it prepares for the upcoming legislative session. Phelan's statement upon withdrawing emphasized the need for unity and indicated that by stepping back, the Republican members might find a candidate more aligned with their principles. As a consequence of his exit, the Democratic Caucus in the Texas House has reaffirmed its commitment to address pressing issues facing Texans, such as public education funding, price gouging, and reproductive rights. The political landscape is shifting rapidly in Texas, with the implications of Phelan’s departure still unclear. The first vote for a new speaker is set to take place on the opening day of the legislative session on January 14, 2025, which will further showcase which candidates can consolidate support amidst the tensions arising from the internal party conflicts following Phelan's withdrawal.