State Rep. Dustin Burrows, who is currently attempting a run for speaker of the House despite losing the Republican nomination for the position over the weekend, has lost yet another member he previously claimed as a supporter.
In a post on X, State Rep. Sam Harless announced that he would support State Rep. David Cook (R–Mansfield) following Cook’s victory in the Republican caucus nomination.
I am supporting the Republican caucus nominee, State Rep. David Cook for Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives.
— Sam Harless State Rep District 126 (@SamHarless126) December 10, 2024
Burrows’ bid is rapidly losing momentum, after he claimed on Saturday to have the support of 38 Republicans and 38 Democrats. Since then, nearly a dozen Republicans and at least two Democrats have rescinded their support.
Harless’ shift to Cook comes shortly after the Harris County Republican Party passed a resolution urging Republican members to unite behind Cook for the speaker’s position.
With Harless’ announcement today, only one of the county’s nine Republican House members—Lacey Hull—remains aligned with Burrows.
Meanwhile, the Republican Party of Texas has issued a warning to members who choose not to support Cook, suggesting they could face censure, which may result in their removal from the 2026 ballot.
