David Cook, an Iowa State alumnus and current president of North Dakota State University, has been named the 17th president of Iowa State University, starting March 1, 2026, succeeding Wendy Wintersteen.
In a surprising development, Texas state Rep. Dustin Burrows announced he has secured enough votes to become the next speaker of the Texas House, despite Rep. David Cook being endorsed by the House GOP Caucus. Burrows claims support from 76 members, including both Republicans and Democrats, challenging the caucus rules that bind GOP members to support Cook. The situation highlights a potential intraparty conflict as Burrows' supporters may defy caucus rules, while Cook aims to unify the party and possibly seek Democratic support.