While many conservatives have worked hard to protect election security in light of the 2020 election, Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan dismissed concerns over the integrity of the election that saw President Donald Trump replaced by President Joe Biden.
At an interview at the left-wing Texas Tribune Festival in Austin on Friday, Phelan was asked if he believed the election was stolen.
“I do not. There is no evidence that election was stolen,” replied Phelan.
The comment was not the first time Phelan has dismissed election security concerns.
During a special session of the Legislature last year, the House actually added a provision to weaken the penalty for illegal voting from a second-degree felony to a Class A misdemeanor when passing an omnibus election integrity bill.
When Gov. Greg Abbott pressed lawmakers to fix the error, Phelan defied the governor, saying he did not want to “re-litigate” the issue.
Phelan is currently in his first term as speaker of the Texas House, after being voted into the position by all but two lawmakers. Lawmakers will elect the next speaker on the first day of the legislative session, January 10.
