AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Legislature begins its new session in less than a week, and one of the biggest unknowns is who will be elected speaker of the Texas House.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton rallied a coalition of Republicans in Central Texas Monday to support Rep. David Cook in his campaign to be speaker.
Paxton is going to districts where representatives have not supported Cook, warning them that a vote for the wrong candidate could harm their political future.
“We will find primary opponents for them and beat them,” said Paxton.
And that’s a promise Paxton says he will keep. Tuesday afternoon, Paxton spoke to like-minded conservatives outside of Austin in Leander.
“We want Republican representatives to vote with Republicans to elect a Republican speaker so we can get Republican issues done,” Paxton said.
Cook won his party’s caucus vote in December but still faces a tough battle against Rep. Dustin Burrows, a Lubbock Republican whose path to speakership is likely through bipartisanship support. This is contrary to what Paxton and his supporters want. Many of whom wore shirts with the slogan “Ban Democratic chairs.”
“I really believe that this is going to happen is because of you. We’ve never had a room of people like you,” Paxton told the attendees.
Paxton was a representative in 2009 when Republicans held a majority in the House, but Democratic chairs were appointed. Conservative activists have since rallied against House leadership who continue the tradition of Democratic committee chairs.
“What they’re trying to say is that the Republican Party should be a very loyal group and that they need to represent the party base — not necessarily the Democratic Party,” said Brian Smith, a St. Edward’s University professor of political sciences.
The party’s division came to a head during the last primary election season, when Paxton campaigned against members of his party who voted to impeach him. Cook voted to impeach Paxton, but still has his support for speaker.
“I’ve talked to Representative Cook. He’s been apologetic and I’m ready to move on with him and support whoever the Republicans are,” said Paxton.
“Today’s ally may have been yesterday’s enemy, and that’s what we’re seeing in this case,” said Smith.
Other Republicans joined Paxton, including Llano Rep.-elect Wes Virdell and Texas GOP Chairman Abraham George. Smith says time will tell what impact Paxton’s tour will have on the speaker race and the future of the Republican Party.
“How conservative it’s going to be with Paxon and the lieutenant governor on one side and more moderate Republicans on the other,” he said.
Cook or Burrows will need 76 votes next Tuesday to win the Speaker seat. But regardless of who wins, party leadership says Republicans who support Burrows will be challenged in their next primary election.