Dade Phelan elected TX House speaker in race that highlighted divide about Democrats’ role
The Texas House on Tuesday overwhelmingly picked Beaumont Republican Dade Phelan as speaker of the Texas House, in a race that highlighted divides among Republicans over whether Democrats should serve as committee chairs.
Picking between Phelan and Arlington Republican Tony Tinderholt, both Republicans, was one of the first orders of business on the first day of the legislative session.
“As I look out upon this distinguished gathering, I see 149 people — ordinary Texans — who are eager to get out and work on extraordinary things,” Phelan said.
The race didn’t have as many fireworks as its Congressional counterpart, where representatives voted 15 times before California Republican Kevin McCarthy won the leadership role. Most Republicans in the House support Phelan for the position, electing him to a second term by a vote of 145-3.
But like in Washington, a divide between some members of the majority party was on display as Tinderholt, considered one of the most conservative lawmakers in the House, challenges Phelan. Central to that fight is the appointment of Democrats as leaders of committees that take up legislation before heading to the full chamber.
“This has faded a lot over the last couple decades, but the Texas House used to be, sort of, determinately bipartisan,” said SMU political science professor Cal Jillson. “It’s much less so now, but this is one of those last vestiges of bipartisanship. “
Representatives that supported Tinderholt include Rep. Bryan Slaton, R-Royse City, and Rep. Nate Schatzline, a newly elected Tarrant County Republican.
“Ask yourself, what do Texans need and deserve?’ Tinderholt said from the House floor Tuesday. “I realized they need me to fight to change this broken system, to give essential policies a change to pass. What we have been doing has not been working. The change needed is uncomfortable, but the cost of doing what is right pales in comparison to the cost of this House repeating lost opportunities session after session.”
Democratic Party Chairs defining element of Texas speaker race
Proponents of not allowing Democratic party chairs, a view shared by Tinderholt, argue having Democrats in the leadership role blocks conservative priorities. Proponents, like Phelan, say that’s not the case and that allowing chairs from the opposite political party is a long-held tradition in the House.
It’s a point Phelan made during the state’s Republican convention, speaking as part of an event hosted by the Texas Republican County Chairmen’s Association. Delegates at the convention voted to make banning Democratic party chairs a legislative priority.
“Give me a Republican priority that died because of a Democrat chair,” Phelan said at the time.
Out of 39 committees, there were 13 Democratic committee chairs during the 2021 legislative session, though one of the chairs — Rep. Ryan Guillen of Rio Grande City — flipped to the Republican Party after the session had ended.
“What do Democratic chairs do in Texas?” Tinderholt asked attendees of a November Parker County Conservatives meeting. “They kill Republican priorities and they water them down, and the speaker of the House allows it, encourages it and helps it.”
Opposition to Democratic committee chairs is shared by the Texas Freedom Caucus, a coalition of some of the state’s most conservative House lawmakers. People with red shirts reading “BAN Democrat Chairs!” walked around the Capitol extension on the Legislature’s opening day.
Phelan referenced the Washington speaker’s race in his floor speech.
“Words of caution — please do not confuse this body with the one in Washington, DC,” he said. “After watching Congress attempt to function last week, I cannot imagine why some want Texas to be like DC.”
Republican caucus endorses Phelan
On Dec. 3, the Texas House Republican Caucus selected Phelan as their endorsed speaker candidate in a blind vote of 78-6. Phelan was first elected as speaker during the 2021 legislative session, after embattled former Speaker Dennis Bonnen didn’t seek reelection.
Priorities named Tuesday in his speech included property tax relief, funding infrastructure improvements, school safety, border security, opposing the “sexualization” and “indoctrination” of children and extending postpartum health coverage for new mothers a full year.
In addition to support from Republicans, Democrats in the House supported Phelan, some giving speeches outlining why they back his speakership.
“Members, though we may face many challenges this session, there will be even more opportunities,” Phelan said. “The work is hard, but it is worthwhile. The work is demanding, but it is noble. The work is necessary, and, because we have the privilege of doing it for the people of Texas, I know we will get it done together.”
In a tweet, Tinderholt thanked “grassroots Texans” who supported his bid.
“I remain dedicated to fighting for them and HD 94,” Tinderholt said. “This session, I will fight harder than ever to deliver conservative wins. To the grassroots I say, we are not defeated. We’re just getting started.”
This story was originally published January 10, 2023 at 12:03 PM.
