Texas Republican leaders demand resignation of state speaker of the House

The Senate Republican Executive Committee approved (58-2) a resolution calling for Dade Phelan's resignation due to his support for the impeachment of Attorney General Kenneth Paxton "despite the weaknesses of the case as demonstrated in the Senate trial."

Published by

Verónica Silveri Pazos

September 25, 2023

1 minute read

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The Texas Senate Republican Executive Committee (SREC) passed a resolution demanding the resignation of Dade Phelan, speaker of the state House of Representatives, the Texas Scorecard reported.

Members of the Republican Party of Texas (RPT) supported, with 58 votes in favor and just two against, the decision to ask for Phelan's resignation after the failed attempt to remove Attorney General Ken Paxton:

he Republican Party of Texas calls on Speaker Dade Phelan to step down from his leadership role as Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, and to allow a new Speaker to be elected after a caucus vote in accordance with the Republican Party of Texas Platform.

Phelan blamed for undermining GOP 'priorities'

The resolution blames Phelan for voting "for the impeachment of Attorney General Warren Kenneth Paxton" and for pressuring "other House members to vote for the impeachment as well":

Speaker Dade Phelan voted for the impeachment of Attorney General Warren Kenneth Paxton and through his leadership team pressured other House members to vote for the impeachment as well, and continues to defend this action despite the weaknesses of the case as demonstrated in the Senate trial that resulted in General Paxton’s acquittal.

He is also accused of ignoring and undermining GOP "priorities" and appointing nine members of the Democratic Party "chair important legislative committees." The text states that "new leadership is needed in the House of Representatives for the upcoming special session ... to ensure that conservative priorities are achieved ... and priorities of the Party they represent and its voters":

Speaker Dade Phelan ignored or actively undermined several GOP priorities during the regular session, failing to prioritize legislation to secure our borders and elections ... New leadership is needed in the House of Representatives for the upcoming special session, and potential subsequent special sessions, to ensure that conservative priorities are achieved and members are no longer pressured to act and vote contrary to the platform, principles, and priorities of the Party they represent and its voters.

Paxton speaks out

Paxton also calls for Phelan's resignation. On X, formerly Twitter, he described the speaker as "liberal" and declared that he had asked him to resign last May:

In May, I called on liberal Speaker Dade Phelan to resign after he was recorded numerous times presiding over the Texas House in a state of apparent debilitating intoxication. Despite this embarrassing conduct, & his continuing erratic behavior, Phelan has refused to resign. He has also wasted millions of tax dollars on a politically motivated sham impeachment, killed a critical border security bill & empowered an Obama lawyer to stop conservative legislation. As the legislature prepares for an anticipated special session to provide children with more opportunities for quality education, it is critical that Dade Phelan resigns as Speaker or is removed from his leadership position. The people of Texas deserve serious, conservative, & unimpaired leadership.

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