State Rep. Matt Shaheen said support for Rep. David Cook is growing even though Rep. Dustin Burrows announced he has the vote.
PLANO, Texas — When it comes to the race for speaker of the Texas House, some lawmakers are now saying it’s not that fast.
The race for leadership is currently between state Rep. David Cook (R-Mansfield) and state Rep. Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock).
Rep. Burroughs recently announced that he has received the votes to be the next state chair, with support from both Republicans and Democrats.
But state Rep. Matt Shaheen (R-Plano) joined Inside Texas Politics and said the race is not a deal, and that if it were, it would be in Cook’s favor.
“Mr. Burrows announced a list of 76 supporters. And since that announcement, literally hours later, people and members have started dropping off this list,” Rep. Shaheen claimed. “At one point, I think he had 38 Republicans. I think he’s down 31. I know of several others who will announce that they’re taking him off the list. ”
Meanwhile, Cook’s support among Republicans jumped from 48 votes to 57, and he needs 76 votes to become speaker, Shaheen said.
Mr. Cook is also the endorsed candidate in the House Republican caucus, and Mr. Shaheen joined calls from other Republican leaders to abide by the results of their members.
But Mr. Shaheen is very confident that momentum is clearly on Mr. Cook’s side and does not expect a major fight on the House floor on the first day of Congress.
“I think this issue will be resolved well before January 14th, when the next Congress takes its first vote,” he said.
