Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan announced Friday that he is stepping aside in his bid for another term as leader. The move follows months of escalating criticism from MAGA conservatives within his party, who have sought to remove him from power and reshape the House’s leadership.
Phelan, who claimed he had the votes to fend off a challenge from former ally Rep. David Cook, withdrew just a day before the GOP caucus was set to choose its speaker nominee regardless. Infamously, Phelan assisted the failed plot to impeach and remove the Lone Star State’s America First Attorney General, Ken Paxton.
Rep. Dustin Burrows, a Phelan ally, is filing paperwork to run in his place. However, Burrows faces resistance from MAGA conservatives determined to elect a speaker without relying on Democratic votes—a hallmark of Phelan’s tenure.
“For the integrity of this chamber, I have decided to step aside,” Phelan said in a statement. Despite his claims of conservative accomplishments, critics accuse him of blocking key priorities and empowering Democrats through committee appointments and legislative delays.
Phelan’s position weakened after Attorney General Ken Paxton’s acquittal in the Senate, which many viewed as a rebuke of Phelan’s support for the impeachment. Further damage came from his perceived lack of support for school vouchers, a priority of Governor Greg Abbott, who backed efforts to unseat Phelan-aligned Republicans during primaries.
The state party’s MAGA wing has pushed for reforms such as barring Democrats from chairing committees and prioritizing Republican bills. These insurgents view Phelan’s departure as a chance to advance a stronger conservative agenda, aligning the House more closely with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s Senate.
