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.

Lubbock Rep. Dustin Burrows on the House floor shortly after securing votes needed to lead the chamber. Every legislative session, the 150-member Texas House of Representatives votes on which of them will take on the role of House speaker. It’s not just ...

TEXAS, USA — Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, was elected Texas House speaker Tuesday, shortly after the 89th Texas Legislative session started. Burrow was selected as the next Texas House Speaker over Reps. David Cook, R-Mansfield and Rep. Ana-María Rodríguez Ramos, D-Dallas. Ramos was eliminated in the first runoff.

AUSTIN — Texas House lawmakers elected Republican Rep. Dustin Burrows as speaker Tuesday, shortly after the Legislature’s 89th regular session began.

AUSTIN — Newly elected Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, struck a conciliatory tone in his victory speech after defeating David Cook, R-Mansfield in what split the GOP.

Burrows of Lubbock entered the race ... as Speaker was a positive step for Texas, but maintained his criticism of Burrows. "[Phelan's] close ally, Dustin Burrows, was elected with the support ...

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.

The political donations came in the two weeks before the fundraising blackout period tied to the legislative session.

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

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

Currently, the Texas House consists of 150 members. In January, the House will be made up of 88 Republicans and 62 Democrats. The new speaker will need at least 76 votes. At the beginning of each legislative session, the current Secretary of State calls the House to order and gives the oath of office to its members.