TYLER, Texas (KLTV) – State Rep. Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock) is speaker of the Texas House following a contentious contest that ultimately saw a majority of Republican state lawmakers side with State Rep. David Cook (R-Mansfield).
Many East Texas lawmakers sided with the Lubbock conservative, while others, including newly sworn-in State Rep. Daniel Alders (R-Tyler) and Joanne Shofner (R-Nacogdoches), sided with Cook. But now that the vote is over, Alders and Shofner are pushing ahead.
“Our priorities for Texans have not changed,” said Shofner. “The speaker is from rural communities as well, so that’s still good for us.”
Alders believes he will be able to work with Burrows to pass legislation they agree on.
“I know that Dustin is a conservative and that he has been a leader in the House for sessions,” Alders said. “I know he’s got the experience, and I think we’ve got a real opportunity to advance a conservative agenda that makes Texas stronger, Texans more free, and that’s what I’m focused on.”
The speaker vote comes after several members of the Texas GOP, including Attorney General Ken Paxton, threatened lawmakers with primary opponents if they did not support the candidate chosen by conservatives. In this case, State Rep. David Cook.
“Texas Republican voters made it clear they want conservative legislation to pass this session,” Paxton said in a statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “It is now important that Speaker Burrows and his leadership team pass every conservative legislative priority in a timely manner to make our state more secure and more prosperous. That is what Texas Republicans expect.”
State Rep. Cole Hefner (R-Mount Pleasant) is one of the 36 Republicans who voted for Burrows.
“I don’t respond to threats, especially from people that I don’t work for,” said Hefner, responding to Republican pressure. “I work for my constituents, and my constituents expect me to vote for the conservative in the race. They expect me to vote for what will pass conservative policy, not follow the crowd.”
Representative Jay Dean (R-Longview) says he is not worried about a potential primary fight after he voted for Burrows.
“We can’t run around scared,” said Dean. “Somebody wants to run for the office, I encourage them to do so.”
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