Texas House Speaker Race Heats Up as Dade Phelan Steps Down

The race for Texas House Speaker remains unresolved as Dade Phelan exits, leaving Republicans David Cook and Dustin Burrows as the main contenders. Cook, backed by the chamber's rightmost faction, seeks to secure the GOP caucus endorsement without Democratic support, while Burrows aims to build a coalition of moderate Republicans and Democrats. Both face challenges in assembling the necessary 76-member coalition in the 150-member House, with Democrats leveraging their support for committee chairmanships and other concessions. The outcome remains uncertain as both candidates navigate complex political dynamics.