As Republican lawmakers are now rushing in droves to call for Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen to step down—after he announced he would not be seeking re-election—it is important for citizens to know who stood up to Bonnen before the writing was on the wall.
After audio was released of Bonnen making a quid pro quo offer to Michael Quinn Sullivan of Empower Texans of media credentials in exchange for the political targeting of 10 House Republicans, statements from those who could no longer support Bonnen trickled in; but the final nail in the coffin came at 9:00 p.m. on Monday.
It was then that four of his top Republican chairmen—State Reps. Lyle Larson (San Antonio), Four Price (Amarillo), Chris Paddie (Marshall), and Dan Huberty (Kingwood)—as well as State Rep. John Frullo (Lubbock), put out a joint statement pulling their support.
After that, it was all but over for Bonnen’s speakership, as former allies began releasing similar statements to abandon the sinking ship.
The following House Republicans called for Bonnen to step down prior to the obvious conclusion on Monday night. Statements from other members came after it became clear Bonnen would be forced to step down:
Matt Schaefer (Tyler)
Travis Clardy (Nacogdoches)
Kyle Kacal (College Station)
John Raney (Bryan)
Steve Toth (The Woodlands)
Ernest Bailes (Shepherd)
Charles Anderson (Waco)
Trent Ashby (Lufkin)
Tan Parker (Flower Mound)
Stan Lambert (Abilene)
Drew Darby (San Angelo)
Kyle Biedermann (Fredericksburg)
Phil Stephenson (Wharton)
John Smithee (Amarillo)
Jonathan Stickland (Bedford)
Tony Tinderholt (Arlington)
DeWayne Burns (Cleburne)
Lynn Stucky (Sanger)
Steve Allison (San Antonio)
John Frullo (Lubbock)
Four Price (Amarillo)
Dan Huberty (Kingwood)
Lyle Larson (San Antonio)
Chris Paddie (Marshall)
