Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan (R-Texas) is expected to win Tuesday’s primary runoff election, narrowly defeating a conservative challenger backed by former President Trump, according to Decision Desk HQ.
Phelan’s reelection effort drew national attention last year when he presided over the impeachment trial of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, on charges of abuse of power. Though Paxton, a Trump ally, was acquitted by the state Senate, the trial exposed deep divisions among Texas Republicans, pitting Trump supporters within the party against the state’s more conservative wing.
At the time, the Texas Republican Party said Phelan should be “ashamed” for bringing a “political sham impeachment” to Texas. Trump later endorsed conservative activist David Covey to run against the state House speaker, accusing Phelan of engaging in a “rigged” impeachment.
“He’s very bad for the Republican Party and for Democracy, and we need to beat him to a pulp,” Trump said of Phelan in the video. He shared it on his Truth Social platform on Saturday.He urged Texans to vote in the “very important” runoff election.
Paxton also slammed Phelan and the “Austin establishment.” X’s Monday Post The runoff election was seen as a revenge fight between Paxton and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R), who had targeted state-level Republicans who also voted against Paxton’s education voucher program. 9 Texas Republicans Eight were defeated in the primary election two months ago, and eight more advanced to the runoff election.
After the March 5 primary went into a runoff, Phelan Explained He describes the election as “a battle for the soul of our district.”
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