AUSTIN, Texas — Rep. Shelby Slawson, R-Stephenville, is the second member to challenge Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, to lead the chamber.
In a letter to House Republicans, she said she’s grown disappointed in the mismanagement of Phelan and his inner circle. Slawson joins state Rep. Tom Oliverson, R-Cypress, who was the first to announce a challenge to Phelan.
Phelan narrowly survived a runoff challenge from the GOP’s h ard right this week. But more than a dozen incumbents lost to hard-right challengers.
Last month 23 state representatives and GOP candidates signed what they called a “Contract With Texas.” The document includes a list of conservative reforms they’d like to see in the House, including no Democrats serving as committee chairs.
Other House Republicans have signed the document since its inception, but seven of the original signees won their primary runoff Tuesday. Twenty will be on November’s ballot during the general election and less than half have Democratic opponents.
Some political experts expect the hardline conservative influence to be a strong force when the legislative session begins in January, estimating Republicans will only have 10 votes they can ignore and still have a majority.
“It also means that a handful of Republicans can hold the body hostage because Democrats are not going to support far-right policies and there aren’t going to be enough Republicans if there’s enough very conservative Republicans saying no for the Republican Party to actually pass anything. They’ll have a majority on paper, but not in reality,” said Brian Smith, a professor of political sciences at St. Edward’s University.
Many of these hardline conservatives also want to see Rep. Dade Phelan removed from his position as House speaker. If a majority of House Republicans can’t agree on leadership, experts don’t expect many bills to be successful.