With the 89th Texas Legislature set to convene on January 14, political activity in Austin is beginning to increase. A variety of Senate and House Committees met earlier this week and more and more members of the legislature are showing up in Austin supper clubs and restaurants. In the midst of this climate is what appears to be a very active race for the Speaker of the House. Speaker Dade Phelan, fresh from a primary runoff win, is returning to the Texas House and he wants his old job as Speaker back. The primary contest was launched against him by his own party leadership as retribution for the House’s impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton. 

In a continued display of Republican internecine warfare, five Republicans have filed to run against Phelan for the Speaker position. Republican candidates to date are:

Dade Phelan (R)                                                                                                                      Beaumont                                                                                                                                                                 Current Speaker  Member Since 2013  

Tom Oliverson (R)                                                                                                                                                        Cypress                                                                                                                                                                        Member since 2017                                                                                                                                                     Chair Insurance

Shelby Slawson  (R)                                                                                                                                                 Granbury                                                                                                                                                                  Member since 2021

David Cook (R)                                                                                                                                                         Mansfield                                                                                                                                                                    Member since 2021

James Frank (R)                                                                                                                                                        Wichita Falls                                                                                                                                                         Member since 2013                                                                                                                                                 Chair Human Services Committee

John Smithee (R)                                                                                                                                                 Amarillo                                                                                                                                                                       Member since 1985                                                                                                                                                        Not currently in leadership (best known as longtime chair of Insurance Committee)

One Democrat has filed but her chances do not look good.

Ana-Maria Ramos (D)                                                                                                                                                  Dallas                                                                                                                                                                         Member since 2019 

To make matters worse, a not-so-secret meeting was held earlier today with roughly 25 or so Republicans showing up for an Austin area meeting focused on coalescing behind a challenger to Speaker Phelan. Whether the intention was to support an existing challenger or a new challenger is not known at this time.

Phelan’s office released the following lengthy statement in response to the meeting:

A former long-time  state representative remarked in a phone conversation that, “There will be people who purport to know what is happening during this race but no one ever really seems to know.” As an established Austin lobbyist that has worked the Capitol since the 1980s said “This is a very fluid situation.” 

The meeting was allegedly orchestrated by the far right wing of the Republican party as almost all of  those in attendance were the same ones who signed a letter opposing Democratic Chairs in the Texas House.

Rumor around the Capitol is that some members are being threatened with primary opponents should they support Phelan. The quandary they are in with such a threat is that Phelan may stifle their legislation next session if they support one of his challengers.

Such intra party infighting has become all too common in state legislatures across the nation as they begin to mimic the U.S. Congress with purity tests and interpersonal vituperativeness.  Of course, the real losers are the taxpayers that these lawmakers represent.