Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan wins GOP primary runoff, fending off anger over impeachment

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas was ready to save his job Tuesday in a GOP primary runoff that exposed divisions within the party.

Gonzales, who has clashed with some of his far-right colleagues in Washington and faced criticism from the state party, is in a race against Brandon Herrera, a YouTube creator who advocates for gun rights with over 3 million followers.

Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan survived a tough challenge and avoided an ouster that could have upended the Republican-controlled legislature. Phelan angered conservatives for leading impeachment of state attorney general in 2023 Ken Paxtonwho was later acquitted in a Senate trial and then decided to delete those who voted against him.

A Gonzales defeat, his supporters warn, would give Democrats an opportunity to flip a traditionally moderate district in November, while a change in leadership of the Texas House of Representatives could push state politics even further to the right .

Here’s a look at the major primary runoffs in Texas:

A GREAT BAAR IN A GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD

Gonzales represents a sprawling district that stretches some 800 miles (nearly 1,300 kilometers) from the Texas-Mexico border.

He was first elected in 2020 and won easily again in 2022, but the state Republican Party sanctioned him on a voting record which highlighted an independent sequence. This included support for same-sex marriage protections and new gun safety laws following the Uvalde School Shooting 2022in his neighborhood, which left 21 dead.

Gonzales also clashed with some far-right Republicans, calling them “bastards.”

Herrera, a weapons manufacturer and gun rights activist, came in second with nearly 25 percent of the vote in a five-way primary in March to force a runoff. Gonzales was first with 45%.

Gonzales has the support of some key Republicans who might be reluctant to oust an incumbent president from a seemingly safe seat. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson attended a fundraiser for Gonzales and Gov. Greg Abbott supported him. Herrera’s support for the far right has included a campaign appearance with Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida.

The winner will face Democrat Santos Limon in November.

Only one other incumbent House speaker has been defeated this year: Republican Rep. Jerry Carl of Alabama, who lost an unusual primary to Rep. Barry Moore after the state was forced to redraw congressional districts.

WHO RUNS THE TEXAS HOUSE?

Phelan won his runoff to survive a wave of intraparty turmoil in America’s largest red state and right-wing anger over last year’s impeachment of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton .

A shakeup at the Texas Capitol could still happen. Although the victory keeps Phelan on the ballot in his southeast Texas district, the bruising primary fight leaves questions about his ability to hold on to the powerful president.

He bounced back to win the runoff after finishing second in March behind challenger David Covey, a former local party chairman and oil and gas consultant.

On his election night, Phelan declared victory in what he called “a terrible, awful, stunning, dragging fight” and told supporters he would remain president.

“I think that runoff did me a favor,” Phelan said. “It let my constituents know what my true record is.”

The race was a snapshot of fractures within the GOP nationally. Phelan, who has been speaker since 2021, faced criticism after his chamber voted last year to impeach Paxton for bribery and corruption. Paxton was later acquitted by the State Senate.

Phelan presided over votes that enacted some of the nation’s strictest anti-abortion laws, dramatically expanded gun rights, supported Gov. Greg Abbott’s highly visible anti-immigration platforms, and rolled back LGBTQ+ rights.

ASSET LINKS

Katrina Pierson, a former spokeswoman for former President Donald Trump, is facing off against incumbent Justin Holland for his House of Representatives seat in suburban Dallas.

Holland was among the House Republicans who voted to impeach Paxton. He also voted to raise the purchasing age of assault rifles from 18 to 21, and voted against Abbott’s plan to spend public education money on private schools.

TIME FLASH

Violent storms that hit the state early Tuesday, particularly in the Dallas and Houston areas, left some voters struggling to get to the polls and some finding them closed when they did.

More than 100 polling places in Dallas, Kaufman, Ellis and Tarrant counties were without power early in the day. Dallas County extended voting by two hours, to 9 p.m., and a judge in Kaufman County, where workers installed generators at several polling places, ordered voting to remain open until 8 p.m. hours. Many Texas counties allow voters to vote at any open polling location.

CUELLAR CHALLENGE

Republicans have chosen Jay Furman, a retired Navy veteran, as their candidate to run in November against Henry Cuellar, a longtime Democratic congressman who, with his wife, was indicted this spring on federal charges of bribery, money laundering and fraud. Cuellar said he was innocent; three partners have pleaded guilty in related investigations.

Furman defeated rancher and businessman Lazaro Garza in the South Texas district that Cuellar has held since 2005. Both campaigned on stronger border security and immigration restrictions.

There’s also another Cuellar on the ballot: Rosie Cuellar, his sister, is facing Cecilia Castellano in the Democratic runoff for a South Texas House of Representatives seat. The March primary took place before Henry Cuellar was indicted, and it is unclear whether his legal troubles will impact his campaign.

The winner advances to the November general election against Republican Don McLaughlin, who was mayor of Uvalde at the time of the school shooting.

GONE GRANGER

Republicans also chose real estate businessman and House Rep. Craig Goldman over construction company businessman John O’Shea to replace outgoing U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, the longest-serving Republican congresswoman of the country. Goldman will face Democrat Trey Hunt in the heavily Republican district anchored in Fort Worth.

Granger, 81, was first elected in 1996 and is a former chairwoman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee. She announced last year that she would not run again.