Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows is directly addressing conservatives who remain frustrated over his rise to power with the support of Democrats, while pointing to the House’s record and promising another conservative agenda next year.
Burrows became speaker in January 2025 after receiving more votes from Democrats than Republicans, prompting backlash from Republican activists who had supported his opponent.
During an interview with conservative radio host Chris Salcedo, Burrows was asked whether he understood why conservatives objected to the way he secured the speakership.
“I do,” Burrows responded.
Burrows pointed to his longtime involvement in Republican politics and his record before becoming speaker, saying he has “always been a conservative.”
“I think that a lot of people had consternation over me and how I became speaker,” said Burrows. “When they saw the things we were able to accomplish, long-time goals of the conservative movement get accomplished, I hope that actions speak louder than words.”
Salcedo also pressed Burrows on several other sources of frustration among conservatives, including the selection of a Democrat speaker pro tempore and Democrats holding vice chairmanships in the Republican-controlled House.
Asked whether those practices would change next session, Burrows did not make a commitment.
“Certainly the members are going to have a chance and a full chance to debate the rules and all of the things next session,” he said.
Instead, Burrows emphasized what he described as a productive conservative legislative session.
“I’m not going to go and use the tagline ‘the most conservative session in history.’ Maybe it was, maybe it wasn’t,” he said. “But we took all of the issues that was important, I think, to the Republican voters, we made sure that we got most of them passed.”
Burrows also rejected the suggestion that his politics have recently shifted to the right.
“I have been the same person for 20 years on my political ideology and my outlooks,” said Burrows.
He suggested his relatively low public profile before becoming speaker may have contributed to conservatives elsewhere in Texas being less familiar with his views.
“I’m not always the most public person,” said Burrows. “Perhaps it’s just one of those things I’ve not been a known quantity to many people, especially in other parts of the state.”
Burrows then pointed toward Republican unity ahead of the November election, including an increasingly public embrace of Attorney General Ken Paxton.
“I ordered some new Ken Paxton signs for my front yard, my parents’ front yard, and my neighbors today,” said Burrows.
He said he has encouraged every Republican member of the House to unite behind the entire GOP ticket, “the top of the ticket with Ken Paxton all the way down.”
Burrows also revealed that he met with Paxton during the legislative session and told him, “You are the Republican attorney general of the state of Texas. Your success is the success of the state of Texas.”
According to Burrows, the two discussed Paxton’s priorities surrounding human trafficking prosecutions, and the House subsequently prioritized related legislation.
“He was fantastic to work with on that,” said Burrows.
Burrows also praised Paxton’s office for working with the House during Democrats’ quorum break last summer, saying the attorney general’s office was “very responsive” in helping Republicans restore a quorum.
Looking beyond November, Burrows said property taxes will be his top priority when lawmakers return to Austin.
“Property tax reform, reduction and pathway—or a full elimination of parts of it—are going to be prioritized,” he said.
Burrows said the issue has moved beyond campaign rhetoric as Texans struggle with the cost of owning their homes.
“I hear from people all the time that are struggling to make it in this economy,” he said. “They are struggling and they’re scared about losing their homes and being able to pay for it.”
Burrows said other affordability issues, including property and casualty insurance and health insurance costs, will also be priorities.
“We have to make it easier to live and raise a family in this state.”
