Meanwhile in the Panhandle, Republicans were less excited that Burrows won the speaker contest thanks largely to Democrats.

Lubbock Republican state Rep. Dustin Burrows clinched the Texas House speakership Tuesday with 85 votes in the 150-member chamber.

The unusually public battle to helm the Texas House divided both Democratic and Republican lawmakers between Rep. Dustin Burrows and Rep. David Cook.

The trial lawyer from Lubbock has served in the House since 2015, slowly building his stature and overcoming a scandal in 2019.

Conservative activists in the GOP caucus called any power sharing with the minority party a betrayal of Republican voters.

Rep. Dustin Burrows is elected Texas House Speaker, winning with support from Democrats, amid GOP internal tensions.

Since then, the vast majority of House speakers have been elected by acclamation or with more than 140 votes. Even Rep. Dade Phelan, whom hard-right Republicans forced from seeking a third term, received 143 votes in 2021 and 145 in 2023.

Texas GOP Representative-elect Shelley Luther wrote on X: "Today, the RINO (anti-MAGA) Establishment laughed in the faces of our Republican grassroots. They chose Democrat chairs and Lobbyist buddies over their voters. I look forward to seeing if they're still laughing after the next round of primaries. The fight starts today."

A leader who learned to keep promises, a chance at chairing committees, and what they see as more chances for a fairer playing field.

Dustin Burrows is elected Speaker of the Texas House, signaling potential bipartisanship in addressing state issues.

AUSTIN – The election of Rep. Dustin Burrows as Texas House speaker with help from Democrats has many Republicans crying foul. Republican grassroots activists have made stripping Democrats’ political influence a central part of the reforms they are ...

Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, shakes hands with Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Plano, after Burrows defeated Rep. David Cook, R-Mansfield, in a two-candidate runoff for speaker during opening day of the ...