In a significant development amid a bitter GOP primary season, embattled State Rep. Tom Oliverson from Harris County announced his candidacy for the Speaker of the Texas House, challenging the current Speaker, Dade Phelan. This announcement came during a major announcement at a lobby fundraiser, marking a notable shift as Oliverson, previously a Phelan ally who received praise for his work, criticized the current leadership for ceding too much power to Democrats and promised a leadership style that reflects the majority party's agenda, including appointing only Republican chairs to committees and addressing the 'secretive' impeachment process. Oliverson's campaign priorities include making school choice the top legislative priority, a stance that he believes resonates with the electorate's desires as evidenced in recent elections, arguing that the failure to pass school choice had a significant impact on the new composition of the Texas House. This move has sparked discussions within the GOP, with some viewing Oliverson's positions as setting a new standard for the speaker race.
State Rep. Tom Oliverson on Thursday announced a challenge to Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, arguing that Phelan has ceded too much power to the minority of Democrats serving in the chamber. https://t.co/5ZWVpxtlor
Saying there would be no DEMs chairing #TxLege committees if he is speaker, @TomOliverson said he is "going to do what the people of this state have been asking the majority party in the Texas House to do for the better part of a decade, which is to lead as a majority.”…
Inbox: @CoveyTX on @TomOliverson’s 89(R) speaker run. #txlege https://t.co/a4aSjnUrW7
A Republican lawmaker is setting up an early fight for the Texas House Speaker's race after declaring his candidacy today. https://t.co/QJZbMwlyV3
.@CoveyTX says he’s running for 89(R) speaker of the Texas House, following @TomOliverson’s announcement today. #txlege https://t.co/X8Nlg0uRMU
State Rep. Tom Oliverson on Thursday announced a challenge to Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan. @TexasTribune https://t.co/0n3D9kF4rX
Tom Oliverson challenges Dade Phelan for Texas House speaker; See photos https://t.co/32YpkV2CXS
Rep. Tom Oliverson, a Dade Phelan ally, announces run for House speaker https://t.co/i7gsjyF4eq
Harris County Republican launches House speaker challenge amid Dade Phelan's runoff fight https://t.co/r5OMXX7xUR
HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IN TEXAS TODAY: > Dr. Oliverson to Run for Speaker > Phelan: SB4 Must Be Enforced > Biden Raises $ in TX > Abbott: 2 Votes Away on School Choice > DMN Editorial: City Botching $1.25B Bond https://t.co/fRnK6jo5b3 #txlege #tx2024 #txgov
"The number one [priority] would be school choice. Anyone who was paying attention on election day saw that the failure to pass school choice had a significant impact on the new composition of the Texas House. In fact, it was probably the biggest thing." - @TomOliverson https://t.co/Ap0v7o4ICx
BREAKING: Texas Representative Tom Oliverson just announced his candidacy for Speaker. He said school choice would be his NUMBER ONE priority. "The #1 [priority] would be school choice.. This is an issue that's time has come." #txlege https://t.co/2OIGkIKUCT
🚨Just in: Texas GOP State Representative Tom Oliverson has announced he is running for the Speaker of the Texas House. https://t.co/eGiQEdkylQ
Great statement. @TomOliverson has set the standard in the upcoming speaker race. If you aren’t willing to come out and take the positions Tom has on issues like appointing only Republican chairs and Republicans choosing the speaker, you aren’t qualified to be speaker. https://t.co/JrxMRDg3Zi
#TxLege Speaker race launches with @TomOliverson is in. School choice will be top legislative priority. Blasted “secretive” impeachment process. More to follow.
Breaking: State Rep. Tom Oliverson on Thursday announced a challenge to Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, arguing that Phelan has ceded too much power to the minority of Democrats serving in the chamber. https://t.co/oAKQbfJdWl
rep oliverson announces for texas house speaker : https://t.co/WHz8UpiJP8
Lawmakers or lawmakers-to-be spotted in the room for this @TomOliverson announcement: -@SenBobHall -@kevinsparkstx -@realmitchlittle -@WesleyVirdell #txlege
At 10am today, #TxLege Rep. @TomOliverson has a “major announcement on the Speaker’s race” - which there has not been one up until now, per se. At 4pm, @DadePhelan is doing a lobby fundraiser at the Austin Club with a “special guest” (assumed to be Rick Perry). Interesting day.
Throwback to a year ago: @TomOliverson received praise from @DadePhelan for his work on insurance at the 2023 TPPF Policy Summit. Today, Oliverson is set to make a major announcement on the speakership at the same event. #txlege https://t.co/fVdHGabM9D
HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IN TEXAS TODAY: > Biden Raising $ in DFW > 5th COA Halts SB4 Hours After SCOTUS Allows > AG Paxton Challenge to End Project Connect? > PSF Pulls $8.5B from Black Rock https://t.co/L32vLRDtG1 #tx2024 #txlege #txgov
Abbott, Phelan meet in public for first time since bitter GOP primary https://t.co/k00W9Uiof7
Dade Phelan predicts victory in primary runoff and a return as House speaker https://t.co/pZIpIYkONJ
Gov. Greg Abbott appears with embattled House Speaker Dade Phelan for first time in heated primary season https://t.co/sqTP20w0ia