Abbott Calls for GOP Unity in Texas House Speaker Race

Governor Greg Abbott expressed his position on the forthcoming Texas House speaker election, calling on Republican legislators to rally around a leader endorsed by the GOP caucus. "I dedicated this whole year to electing conservative candidates who will enact conservative laws, including school choice," Abbott stated on X, formerly known as Twitter. "To reach that objective, it is essential to have a Texas House Speaker selected by a majority of Republicans, following the guidelines set forth by the Republican Caucus Rules."

Abbott chose not to endorse a particular candidate, although recent events have reduced the number of contenders. After the GOP caucus vote on Saturday, Republican Rep. David Cook from Mansfield secured the support of at least 56 members. At the same time, Rep. Dustin Burrows, who once asserted he had bipartisan backing for the position, has experienced a decline in his support base.

The process of selecting the speaker is distinctive to the Texas House, where every one of the 150 members—irrespective of party affiliation—has an equal vote. Throughout history, candidates who achieve success frequently establish bipartisan coalitions and, upon election, implement a power-sharing framework that includes granting committee chairmanships to the minority party.

As the 2025 legislative session draws near, the stakes are elevated. Abbott’s focus on caucus unity illustrates his overarching strategy to guarantee that the House emphasizes conservative policies, especially on divisive matters such as school choice. The election of the speaker will significantly influence the legislative agenda in the upcoming months.