In a significant development in Texas politics, House Speaker Dade Phelan is set to face a runoff election against GOP activist David Covey after receiving 14,542 votes, or 43.2% of the vote, compared to Covey's 15,576 votes, or 46.3%. This comes after Phelan, a Republican, failed to secure a majority in the primary, signaling a precarious position within his party. The election has garnered national attention, with Phelan being targeted by former President Donald Trump and Attorney General Ken Paxton, both of whom backed Covey. The outcome of this race is viewed as critical for the future direction of the Texas Republican Party, with implications for the broader political landscape in the state.
The Speaker of the Texas House Dade Phelan will be heading to a runoff, after failing to receive the support of a majority of Republican voters in his district. 📲Full Story: https://t.co/xdU8CdDCLf https://t.co/G6fhg45CqQ
Texas Speaker Dade Phelan to face runoff in GOP primary https://t.co/eBBy1xB7rA
Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan heading to runoff against conservative challenger | Read more from @TexasTribune https://t.co/G4mIX7Tqqi
The Texas House is headed toward an uncertain future as House Speaker Dade Phelan was forced into a runoff. https://t.co/rgoQVb0YGF
On w/ @MarkDavis, @KenPaxtonTX optimistic about @CoveyTX’s chances in the runoff against @DadePhelan. “In runoffs, the more conservative voters are usually the more motivated.” #txlege
PRIMARY RESULTS! #TxLege Speaker @DadePhelan has been pushed into a runoff with @CoveyTX. Get details in today's edition of the TEXAS MINUTE. Also... Incumbents suffer big losses in House… GOP challengers swept the races for the @texas_cca… @GregAbbott_TX's push for… https://t.co/CmGfUW0Yh6
PRIMARY RESULTS! #TxLege Speaker @DadePhelan has been pushed into a runoff with @CoveyTX. Big details in today's edition of the TEXAS MINUTE. Also... Incumbents suffer big losses in House… GOP challengers swept the races for the @texas_cca… @GregAbbott_TX's push for… https://t.co/JsIw6zm6KV
What a wild night in the #Texas primary: “Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan Pushed to May Runoff Against David Covey” https://t.co/1Z57BYS9zM via @TheTexanNews #txlege
Republican Texas House Speaker Headed To Runoff As AG Ken Paxton Takes Revenge https://t.co/DrNvU3DGoF
Texas Speaker Dade Phelan, who received 14,542 votes, or 43.2% of the vote, will face David Covey, who received 15,576 votes, or 46.3% of the votes, in a runoff. https://t.co/ri95U9XtyK #khou11 @12NewsNow
Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan heads to runoff against Trump-backed GOP primary opponent https://t.co/fToWdC7MZh
Update: House Speaker Dade Phelan heading to primary runoff against challenger David Covey #supertuesday #texasprimary https://t.co/SSpx9HS3MD
Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan has been forced into a runoff against oil and gas consultant David Covey https://t.co/MxYEEoG7Sa
Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan and his Republican challenger David Covey, who was backed by former President Donald Trump and Attorney General Ken Paxton, will proceed to a primary runoff race in May, The Associated Press projects. https://t.co/cSXTd7KSBd
Speaker Dade Phelan, David Covey head to runoff for State Representative District 21. KFDM had exclusive live coverage on Super Tuesday from Covey's election watch party, with Lt. Governor Dan Patrick making a surprise appearance. https://t.co/ggbZuTVnDQ https://t.co/orUbZV0QUf
Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, David Covey headed to runoff in District 21 primary https://t.co/aHrdIETck6
Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan is facing a runoff election after he failed to secure a majority of votes in primary voting, the clearest sign to date of his precarious position within the Republican Party. https://t.co/Dpge6z61LU
Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan is headed to a runoff against GOP activist David Covey after failing to secure a majority of the vote in Tuesday’s primary, a seismic turn of events that puts the powerful Beaumont Republican’s political future in doubt. https://t.co/6SQA0cfjH3 https://t.co/TgTjI4pvgc
What a HORRIBLE night it has become for the crony establishment in Austin With Dade Phelan conceding he has been forced into a runoff, the race for the next #TxLege Speaker of the House has begun. Will the @TXGOPCaucus again let Democrats do the picking? Or, will Republicans…
New: @CoveyTX statement on pushing @DadePhelan to a runoff in #HD21. #txlege https://t.co/RQgAB6LXKM
"The barrage aimed at our campaign over the past year was meant to be my undoing, and yet here I am...still fighting and more determined than ever," @DadePhelan said after being pushed to a runoff against @CoveyTX. https://t.co/4XKH8RthYt
What a HORRIBLE night it has become for the corny establishment in Austin With Dade Phelan conceding he has been forced into a runoff, the race for the next #TxLege Speaker of the House has begun. Will the @TXGOPCaucus again let Democrats do the picking? Or, will Republicans…
Breaking: Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan is facing a runoff election after he failed to secure a majority of votes in primary voting, the clearest sign to date of his precarious position within the Republican Party. https://t.co/urUSsY972l
Today's election results have revealed that the battle for the soul of Texas is far from over. While David Covey and Dade Phelan are headed to a runoff, it's clear that our fight against the liberal forces in Austin must continue unabated. I am still immensely proud to have…
In new statement, @DadePhelan acknowledges his primary is headed to a runoff, which he frames as "not just another race, it’s the frontline of the battle for the soul of our district." #txlege #HD21 https://t.co/WABihSzF0I
New: @DadePhelan statement on an #HD21 runoff against @CoveyTX. #txlege https://t.co/fVSONlLJic
House Speaker Dade Phelan locked in tight race with challenger David Covey; runoff likely https://t.co/SSpx9HS3MD
So looks like Dade Phelan heads to a runoff. The guy who created a gun control committee with Dems, who fought constitutional carry, and supported red flag laws. I just want to know how the guy got enough votes for a runoff #txlege
Dade Phelan, the Republican speaker of the Texas House, may be at risk of being thrust into a runoff with his GOP primary challenger. When it comes to the future of the Texas Republican Party, this race is perhaps the most important. https://t.co/mCEELswgpT
House Speaker Dade Phelan in danger of runoff after leading Paxton impeachment push https://t.co/6WxHcy2edT
House Speaker Dade Phelan was in danger of being forced into a runoff Tuesday after early returns showed him locked in a tight contest with his top primary challenger, GOP activist David Covey. https://t.co/O6276T8sNB
House Speaker Dade Phelan trails challenger David Covey in GOP primary early voting https://t.co/SSpx9HS3MD
#TxLege Speaker @DadePhelan appears headed to a runoff. In the real world... that's a loss for the crony establishment.
Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan’s seat appeared to be in danger Tuesday evening as he secured less than a majority of votes in early primary voting. https://t.co/hmscPpvYhx
Dade Phelan was the RINO loser who tried to take out Americas best attorney general @KenPaxtonTX! So long, Dade! https://t.co/3JLo7227WJ
JUST IN: Anti-Trump Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan has just been defeated in the Texas GOP primary.
UPDATE: Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan trailing as votes still coming in. https://t.co/185UH1MyhS
BREAKING: Widely disliked Texas Ledge House Speaker Dade Phelan has just been defeated in the primary. https://t.co/ivNfZrWpMH
🚨BREAKING: Texas Ledge House Speaker Dade Phelan has LOST his primary race. https://t.co/ERqCJ5Bc82
.@DadePhelan is in the spotlight as he and a number of other Texas House Republicans face primary challengers #VoteTexas #SuperTuesday https://t.co/a4DZxSdZgL
In GOP primary, House Speaker Dade Phelan fights off claims he's not conservative enough https://t.co/kX3XQkiyTW
Eyes are on Texas House primary race pitting Speaker and Paxton target Dade Phelan against challenger David Covey https://t.co/Yfn1zWl87l #texasnews
Speaker @DadePhelan faces a tough climb toward re-election against @CoveyTX following a chaotic year in #txlege and an uprising of opposition on the GOP's right flank. Both supporters and critics alike will be watching intently as results roll in. https://t.co/fc0R2PgBV9