Dade Phelan, Speaker of the Texas House, narrowly survived a contentious primary runoff against fellow Republican David Covey. The Associated Press declared Phelan the winner of the Texas House District 21 race late on May 28. Unofficial election results indicate that Phelan secured 50.7 percent of the vote against Covey’s 49.3 percent, with about 97 percent of results tallied as of 4:50 AM. ET Wednesday.
The primary runoff occurred amid ongoing turmoil within the Texas GOP, driven by a conflict between supporters of Donald J. Trump‘s Make America Great Again movement and Texas establishment Republican politicians. As Speaker, Phelan presided over the sham impeachment trial of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in September. Paxton was acquitted by the State Senate after Phelan’s star witnesses either recanted or admitted their testimony was made up.
Rick Perry being Rick Perry.
“I think it’s kind of sexy, frankly,” Perry says about being called a RINO, while putting his hand on his head to mimic a rhino’s horn. “When you think about it … it’s one of the baddest boys on the block, right?”https://t.co/BlSKByIxuY
— Jeremy Wallace (@JeremySWallace) February 21, 2024
Trump — along with Paxton and allies like Sid Miller — had urged voters to oust Phelan, framing the race as pivotal in the internal struggle. Despite Phelan’s victory, at least six of his eight allies in the Texas House lost their primary races to conservative and populist challengers. Following Phelan’s victory, Paxton took to social media to express his discontent, suggesting that Democratic voters were responsible for the result. “Democrats just reelected Dade Phelan. We must close our primaries. Now,” he said.
In March, Covey had led Phelan in the initial GOP primary with 46 percent to 43 percent. Needing a majority to avoid a runoff, the election contest moved to a second vote on Tuesday. Over the campaign, Covey questioned Phelan’s conservative credentials and criticized his appointment of Democrats to legislative committee chairs.
🚨Democrats just reelected @dadephelan.
We must close our primaries.
— Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) May 29, 2024