AUSTIN, Texas — Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) is in the spotlight as he and a number of other Texas House Republicans face primary challengers.
Phelan has drawn the ire of some of his Republican colleagues due to his perceived inaction on school vouchers and initiating the impeachment of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Some members of the state party had grown so frustrated with Phelan that they voted to censure him in early February for his "lack of fidelity to Republican principles and priorities."
David Covey, the chairman of the Orange County Republican Party, is running against Phelan and has earned the endorsements of Gov. Greg Abbott, former President Donald Trump, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and others.
Meanwhile, the 16 House Republicans running for re-election that voted against creating education savings accounts, or school vouchers, lost Abbott's support and are facing challengers in the primary. The governor endorsed all other Republican House members running for re-election and has endorsed a number of the challengers who fought his efforts to establish education savings accounts during the regular and special sessions of the 88th Texas Legislature.
Education savings accounts were a priority for Abbott. While the the Senate and House could not reach a deal on a plan, both chambers made efforts during the fourth special session to pass their own plans.
A voucher plan was voted out of the Texas Senate. During the vote in the House, 21 Republicans – the majority of which represent rural parts of Texas – voted on an amendment to strike vouchers from the bill. Five of those Republicans are not seeking re-election.
High-profile primary endorsements
Since the end of the fourth special session, Gov. Abbott has focused his attention on targeting Texas House Republicans who opposed voucher initiatives.
Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) has also embarked on a vengeance tour of sorts, as he has set his sights on House Republicans who voted to impeach him last summer. It is worth noting: the majority of republicans in the House voted to impeach Paxton. Just 23 republicans voted against impeachment.
After saying he would not make endorsements in House races, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) said he thinks the Texas House "needs new leadership and a fresh crop of new members." He then endorsed a number of candidates in response to their respective votes or positions on Paxton's impeachment, school vouchers and property tax relief, including David Covey, who is challenging Phelan.
Former President Donald Trump and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) have also offered a handful of endorsements in the upcoming March primary but have not outlined specific motivations for each.
The 16 House Republicans who voted against vouchers and are facing challengers are:
- State Rep. Gary VanDeaver (R-New Boston) – facing Chris Spencer, endorsed by Abbott, and Dale Huls
- State Rep. Keith Bell (R-Forney) – facing Josh Feuerstein
- State Rep. Jay Dean (R-Longview) – facing Joe McDaniel and Bonne Walters
- State Rep. Travis Clardy (R-Nacogdoches) – facing Joanne Shofner, endorsed by Abbott
- State Rep. Ernest Bailes (R-Shepherd) – facing Janis Holt, endorsed by Abbott, and Stephan Missick
- State Rep. Justin Holland (R-Rockwall) – facing Dennis London and Katrina Pierson
- State Rep. John Kuempel (R-Seguin) – facing Alan Schoolcraft, endorsed by Abbott; David Freimarck and Greg Switzer
- State Rep. Hugh Shine (R-Temple) – facing Hillary Hickland, endorsed by Abbott; Jorge Estrada and Davis Ford
- State Rep. DeWayne Burns (R-Cleburne) – facing Helen Kerwin, endorsed by Abbott, and Lyndon Laird
- State Rep. Glenn Rogers (R-Graford) – facing Mike Olcott, endorsed by Abbott
- State Rep. Reggie Smith (R-Sherman) – facing Shelley Luther
- State Rep. Stan Lambert (R-Abilene) – facing Liz Case, endorsed by Abbott
- State Rep. Drew Darby (R-San Angelo) – facing Stormy Bradley, endorsed by Abbott
- State Rep. Ken King (R-Canadian) – facing Karen Post
- State Rep. Charlie Geren (R-Fort Worth) – facing Jack Reynolds
- State Rep. Steve Allison (R-San Antonio) – facing Marc LaHood, endorsed by Abbott, and Michael Champion
Five Republicans who voted against vouchers are not running for re-election, including Central Texas State Rep. Andrew Murr (R-Junction). Murr lead the impeachment proceedings against Paxton.
Abbott endorsed candidates in all of those races, and political experts expect the candidates he is endorsing to win.
