'Anti-MAGA' Texas state Rep. Burrows wins House speakership in bitter GOP inter-party battle

Texas GOP state Rep. Dustin Burrows on Tuesday won the state House speakership, defeating anti-establishment and MAGA-supported candidate Rep. David Cook.

The Texas Republican Party has been sharply divided since the 2023 impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton under then-GOP House Speaker Dade Phelan. 

Phelan lost power when Paxton was acquitted in the Senate. And in early December, Phelan ended his bid to keep his speakership upon realizing he did not have the votes. 

Burrows defeated Cook in a second-round, runoff vote at the start of the Texas legislative session. 

“I commit to you today, every member will have a voice,” Burrows said after his victory, according to The Texas Tribune. “Every district will have a seat at the table.”

Paxton had urged the Texas House to vote for Cook, from the city of Mansfield.

GOP state Rep. Shelley Luther wrote on X. after the vote: "Today, the RINO (anti-MAGA) Establishment laughed in the faces of our Republican grassroots. They chose Democrat chairs and Lobbyist buddies over their voters. I look forward to seeing if they’re still laughing after the next round of primaries. The fight starts today."