Phelan’s survival and Cornyn’s bid for Senate leadership – Houston Public Media

https://cdn.houstonpublicmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/29104618/politique-roundup-HM-052924.mp3?srcid=rss-feed

Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan withstood a challenge from his far-right flank, defeating former Orange County Republican Party Chairman David Covey in a primary runoff election from Tuesday (May 28, 2024).

The Beaumont state representative did so despite fierce opposition from state GOP leaders, including Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Attorney General Ken Paxton. They were upset that the Texas House chose not to pass a school voucher bill and continued impeachment proceedings against Paxton.

Despite vocal opposition, Phelan narrowly defeated Covey, and with no Democrats expected to oppose him next November, the president is poised to retain his seat in Texas’ 21st District.

It may be a short-lived victory, as Phelan faces opposition in any attempt to re-elect the speaker of the Texas House of Representatives.

In the audio above, we discuss Texas U.S. Sen. John Cornyn’s pursuit for GOP leadership in the U.S. Senate and other developments in local, state and national politics with a political science professor at the University of Houston. Nancy Simsand Brandon Rottinghaus, professor of political science at UH.