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The Texas Tribune

The Texas Tribune

What does the Texas House speaker do and why are Republicans fighting?

The Texas Tribune
Summary
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80% Informative

Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan dropped his bid to lead the Legislature ’s lower chamber next year .

He was expected to defend his position against the far-right flank of his party, some of whom rallied behind state Rep. David Cook of Mansfield .

The House speaker is the presiding officer during the legislative session.

Texas has passed some of its most conservative legislation in recent memory.

Phelan 's support of Attorney General Ken Paxton 's impeachment separated him from the state's far right.

The most far-right Republicans don't trust him to be a guide for conservative legislation, Rottinghaus said.