More and more Texas Republicans are letting legislators know they aren’t happy with state House leadership – or lack thereof – and they’re calling for a change.

Denton County’s Republican Party is the latest to join the movement.

Thursday night, DCRP unanimously passed a resolution expressing “no confidence” in House Speaker Joe Straus for his failure to advance the Republican Party of Texas platform, and calling for new leadership:

Whereas, even though many pieces of legislation have been put forward that are in line with the Republican Party of Texas platform, Speaker Straus has failed to get them through the Texas House of Representatives; and

Whereas, We have no confidence going forward that he will adequately support the direction outlined by the platform; and

Whereas, We believe that it is time for new leadership in the house in order to effectively represent the will of Texas voters;

Therefore Be It Resolved, We the Republican committee of Denton County, do hereby demand our elected officials in the Texas House withdraw support for the current Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, Joe Straus; and

Be It Further Resolved, that a copy of this resolution be sent to all of the Republican State Representatives.

State representatives serving Denton County are Republicans Lynn Stucky (Denton), Ron Simmons (Carrollton), and House Republican Caucus Chair Tan Parker (Flower Mound). Like Straus, Parker has also been seen as intentionally ineffectual in promoting conservative legislation – regularly siding with the speaker and against constituents and the Republican Party platform.

Even as the special legislative session adjourned last week, the anti-Straus movement continued gaining momentum. Several other county GOPs also joined the chorus calling for new House leadership, including Montgomery, Hopkins, Morris, and Tom Green.

The total now tops 20, with at least 15 more county parties planning votes of no confidence in Straus. Dallas County’s Republican Party is expected to consider a resolution at its Executive Committee meeting tonight.

Other conservative organizations, Republican clubs, and tea party groups are also adding their voices to the calls for change.

As State Rep. Matt Shaheen (R-Plano) said in his re-election announcement on Friday, “It is clear that the battle for the future of a better Texas lies in the House of Representatives.”

Republicans across Texas are making clear that the battle for a House of Representatives that reflects their party’s values lies in the selection of a new speaker.

Erin Anderson

Erin Anderson is a Senior Journalist for Texas Scorecard, reporting on state and local issues, events, and government actions that impact people in communities throughout Texas and the DFW Metroplex. A native Texan, Erin grew up in the Houston area and now lives in Collin County.

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