Republican State Rep. Ellen Troxclair of Lakeway has written a letter to her colleagues outlining her support for David Cook in the ongoing speaker’s race.
Cook (R-Mansfield) is challenging incumbent Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont).
Troxclair outlined four reasons for her support for Cook: banning Democrat committee chairs, returning power to individual members, unifying the Republican caucus, and passing policy priorities.
Troxclair noted that 47 state legislatures along with the U.S. Congress reserve committee chairs exclusively for members of the majority party. By continuing power-sharing arrangements, Texas stands only with Alaska and Vermont. Troxclair has opposed this practice since her initial campaign in 2022.
She went on to deride consolidation of power in the office of the speaker. According to Troxclair, this has undermined the ability of members to represent their constituents.
Troxclair called the Republican caucus “fractured” and stated that “those of us who have had front row seats could fill novels with how and why this happened, and who or what is to blame.” She praised Cook for making “great strides to rebuild trust among members of our caucus” and “heal[ing] old wounds.”
Regarding policy priorities, Troxclair cited border security, water scarcity, foreign land ownership, and efficient and effective government as areas where work remains.
Troxclair was elected to the Texas House in 2022 with widespread conservative support. Once in office, she voted in favor of the Ken Paxton impeachment and earned a failing grade on the Texans for Fiscal Responsibility index but survived a primary challenge in 2024.
The Republican caucus of the Texas House will meet to determine a speaker candidate on Saturday.
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