AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Legislature will begin a new session in less than a week, but one of the biggest unknowns is who will be elected Speaker of the Texas House.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Monday rallied a coalition of Republicans in central Texas to support Rep. David Cook’s campaign for speaker.
Mr Paxton will visit constituencies where MPs do not support Mr Cook, warning them that voting for the wrong candidate could damage their political futures.
“We’ll find their main opponent and beat them,” Paxton said.
And that’s a promise Paxton says he’ll keep. On Tuesday afternoon, Paxton spoke to like-minded conservatives in the Austin suburb of Leander.
“I would like to see Republicans vote with their Republican colleagues to elect a Republican chair so that we can resolve the problems that the Republican Party has,” Paxton said.
Cook won the December caucus vote, but faces a tough battle from Rep. Dustin Burrows, a Lubbock Republican, and his path to speaker could have bipartisan support. is high. This is contrary to what Paxton and his supporters want. Many wore shirts with the slogan “Ban the Chair of Democracy”.
“I truly believe that it’s your fault that something like this happens. There’s never been a room full of people like you,” Paxton told attendees.
Paxton was a delegate in 2009 when Republicans held the House majority, but a Democratic speaker was appointed. Since then, conservative activists have rallied against House leadership in the tradition of Democratic committee chairs.
“What they’re saying is that Republicans should be a very loyal group, and they should represent the party’s base, not necessarily the Democrats,” said Brian Smith, a political science professor at St. Edwards University. “That’s true,” he says.
The party’s divisions came to a head during last year’s primary season, when Paxton campaigned against party members who voted for impeachment. Cook voted in favor of impeaching Paxton, but remains supportive of the speaker.
“I spoke with Congressman Cook. He has apologized and I am ready to move forward with him and support whoever the Republican Party is,” Paxton said.
“Today’s friend may have been yesterday’s enemy, and that’s what we’re looking at in this case,” Smith said.
Paxton was joined by other Republicans, including Congressman-elect Wes Bardell of Llano and Texas Republican Party Chairman Abraham George. Smith said only time will tell what impact Paxton’s tour will have on the speaker race and the future of the Republican Party.
“How conservative would it be to have Mr. Paxson and the lieutenant governor on one side and a moderate Republican on the other,” he said.
Cook or Burrows will need 76 votes next Tuesday to win the Speaker’s seat. But party leaders say Republicans supporting Burroughs will be challenged in the next primary, regardless of who wins.
