November 7, 2024      3:37 PM

Speaker Phelan says flatly that Rep. David Cook does not have the votes to preside over the Texas House

“He was not even the highest vote-getter at the unsanctioned meeting to endorse a Speaker candidate” Phelan said after Cook portrayed the election of then-Speaker Straus in a way that veers from what happened

Responding to a Wednesday message to Republican lawmakers sent by speaker candidate Rep. David Cook, Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan on Thursday said flatly that Cook simply cannot get there. The Texas House GOP Caucus has slated a meeting for December 7 to endorse a speaker candidate and elect caucus leadership.

“Rep. Cook does not have the necessary support to become the caucus nominee, let alone the Speaker of the House,” Phelan said in response to Cook, who compared Phelan’s speakership to a distorted version of the way then-Speaker Joe Straus was elected as the chamber’s presiding officer back in 2009.

“In 2009, Speaker Joe Straus was elected by a coalition that included 11 Republicans, who joined forces with the Democrats to remove a conservative speaker,” Cook wrote to GOP members. “Their decision to break ranks and side with the Democrats effectively ousted Speaker Tom Craddick and installed Straus in his place.”

By Scott Braddock

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