Next Republican Texas Speaker May Be Elected With Help of Democrats

The race represents a battle between the Texas GOP’s more conservative wing and moderates who want to work with Democrats.
Next Republican Texas Speaker May Be Elected With Help of Democrats
Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan (L) presides over the Texas House in Austin, in a July 13, 2021, file image. Montinique Monroe/Getty Images
Darlene McCormick Sanchez
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The Texas showdown between conservative Republicans and more moderate party members who want to work with Democrats will be determined on Jan. 14 when the state House of Representatives votes on a new speaker.

Rep. David Cook and his challenger in the race, fellow Republican Rep. Dustin Burrows, have been in a stalemate after a majority of Republican lawmakers voted in favor of Cook for speaker at a December 2024 meeting.

Darlene McCormick Sanchez
Darlene McCormick Sanchez
Reporter
Darlene McCormick Sanchez is an Epoch Times reporter who covers border security and immigration, election integrity, and Texas politics. Ms. McCormick Sanchez has 20 years of experience in media and has worked for outlets including Waco Tribune Herald, Tampa Tribune, and Waterbury Republican-American. She was a finalist for a Pulitzer prize for investigative reporting.