Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) is getting some high-profile help in his battle to hold onto his seat. Faced with a difficult runoff election on May 28 against challenger David Covey, Phelan is hoping some "old money" in Texas politics will help his campaign fortunes. Texas Scorecard has revealed the invitation to an upcoming Phelan fundraiser at the home of Dallas billionaire Kelcy Warren. The guest list includes a who's who of the Texas GOP establishment, including former Gov. Rick Perry, Karl Rove, former Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, and former Texas House Speakers Joe Straus and Dennis Bonnen. "You have some lawmakers currently in the Texas House on that list, but you also have lobby groups like Texans for Lawsuit Reform and other establishment-aligned groups, like Associated Republicans of Texas," says Brandon Waltens, senior editor at Texas Scorecard.
Also notable is how far Phelan is going for this event, which is nowhere near his district. "Dade Phelan represents a district in Southeast Texas, in Beaumont and Orange County, and this is taking place in Dallas," says Waltens.
Phelan's race is at the center of the divide among Texas Republicans, with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and the Texas GOP both opposing Phelan, while the above-mentioned big names back the Speaker. Either way, Phelan's days as Speaker are likely numbered. "Whether or not Dade Phelan comes back to the Texas House, I think it's almost a foregone conclusion that he will no longer be the Speaker," says Waltens. "That's gonna leave open a big question for lawmakers when they return next year."
That question is which direction Texas Republicans will embrace. "You have Dan Patrick, Ken Paxton, the Texas GOP---and don't forget Donald Trump---saying we need conservatives and true Republicans in control in the Texas House," Waltens tells KTRH. "But I wouldn't count out the Austin swamp to give it a fighting chance."
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