An acrimonious race for Speaker of the Texas House is splitting the state GOP — and forcing a confrontation between the body’s warring Republican camps. Competing Republican state Reps. David

Texas Republicans are squabbling over who they want as the next speaker of the Texas House. Two lawmakers both claim they have the votes.

Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan will not hold his leadership role when lawmakers return to Austin in January for the next legislative session.

The House speaker is the presiding officer during the legislative session for the House of Representatives. The speaker maintains order during floor debates, recognizes legislators wishing to speak and rules on procedural matters. The speaker also signs all bills and joint resolutions passed by the Legislature.

The speaker is tasked with maintaining order on the House floor during debates, recognizing members who want to speak and ruling on procedural matters. Under the Texas Constitution, the speaker signs all bills and joint resolutions passed by the legislature.

The current House speaker, Rep. Dade Phelan, a Beaumont Republican, announced he was exiting the race on Friday, Dec. 6. Around the same time, Rep. Dustin Burrows, a Lubbock Republican, entered it, challenging fellow Cook, who entered the race in September.

Texas House Republicans met in private Saturday to choose a candidate for speaker to back in the 2025 session of the Legislature.

Even though state Rep. Dustin Burrows is touting himself as "speaker-elect," he has yet to definitively demonstrate he has the job locked up.