Texas GOP Infighting Reaches Boiling Point with House Speaker Fight

Long-standing divisions within the Texas Republican Party have erupted into a heated battle over the state House Speaker seat, exposing a deep rift between the party's conservative former establishment and its ascendant far-right faction.

At the center of the struggle are state Rep. Dustin Burrows, a close ally of outgoing Speaker Dade Phelan (R), and state Rep. David Cook, who secured the state GOP’s Speaker nomination last month. The clash threatens to deepen internecine conflict in the Legislature as it tackles pressing issues facing Texas, like school funding.

The fight has escalated discord within the Republican caucus. Last Tuesday, Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) added to the tension, warning that Republican lawmakers who align with Democrats to block the GOP’s nominee could face primary challenges.

A Cook victory would mark a significant shift, making him the first far-right candidate to claim the Speakership in over a decade. Political observers see this moment as the culmination of years of ideological friction within the Texas GOP.

The stakes have forged unusual alliances. Burrows, a conservative Republican known for his role in curbing city authority, has turned to Democrats for support, risking political fallout if his bid fails.

Meanwhile, Cook, a Republican from the Dallas-Fort Worth area, has rallied the hard-right faction despite a past record as Mansfield’s mayor that included supporting tax increases and a fracking ban. Since shifting his legislative focus, Cook has positioned himself as a grassroots conservative champion.

Cook’s supporters in the Texas GOP have taken an aggressive stance against Burrows’ backers, threatening censure, primary challenges, and even expulsion from the party.

The conflict comes amid broader turmoil within the party. Governor Greg Abbott recently targeted longtime allies with primary challenges who opposed him on private school vouchers last session. Abbott’s comments urging a Speaker chosen “by a majority of Republicans” have been seen as tacit support for Cook.

Cook’s hardline approach — aiming to marginalize Democrats entirely from leadership and legislative influence — has inadvertently united a coalition of Democrats and moderate Republicans behind Burrows. Burrows claims this coalition provides him enough votes to prevail, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown.

As the Texas GOP grapples with its identity, the outcome of this leadership battle could shape the party’s direction for years to come, but so far, the extreme right has been winning most of the battles.