House Republicans who have been critical of House Speaker Dade Phelan are backing the challenger. Rep. David Cook, R-Mansfield, has been selected by 48 members and candidates for the House district as their preferred candidate for Speaker of the House.
Mr. Cook defeated several Republicans vying for the speakership. Mr. Phelan has faced criticism from some conservative members of his own party for continuing a long-standing tradition of assigning Democrats to chair some House committees.
James Barragan, a political reporter for the Texas Tribune, said Cook is “a relative newcomer who has only been to Congress a few times.” “He was the consensus choice at this meeting of Republicans who were sort of anti-Ferran. There were four people running, but David Cook looked like the winner.”
It remains to be seen whether Cook’s candidacy poses a threat to Phelan, who has been chairing the council since 2021.
“As usual in the presidential election, the names of those who support him have not been published, so it’s a little unclear,” Barragan said. “These are called pledges. So it’s a bit shaky as to how much support he actually has and what that means for Phelan in the future.”
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