Paxton’s revenge: Texas House speaker forced to runoff after finishing second in GOP primary

Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan finished second Tuesday night to a Donald Trump-backed challenger in the Republican primary – forcing him into a marquee runoff fueled by the failed effort to remove state Attorney General Ken Paxton from office.

Both Paxton, who survived impeachment with a Senate acquittal, and Trump had endorsed challenger David Covey, who finished first on Super Tuesday night with 46% of the vote, compared to 43% for Phelan. A third candidate got 10% of the vote.

Because no one got a majority of 50% or more, Phelan will advance with Covey to a runoff in late May that will require the House speaker to fight for his political life.