Day one of the 89th legislative session is in the books, and we have a new speaker. Only time will tell if the majority of either party will be happy with the selection.  

In the run-up to the session, two Republican factions have been duking it out in backrooms and on social media over who would preside over the Texas Legislature’s lower chamber. On one side was three-term Rep. David Cook (R–Mansfield). Cook had the backing of a slim majority of the House Republican Caucus, along with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) and West Texas billionaires Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks and their followers. On the other was five-term Rep. Dustin Burrows (R–Lubbock). Burrows is a longtime ally of former speaker and retired state representative Dennis Bonnen, who is currently a lobbyist. One of Bonnen’s clients is billionaire Doug Deason, a major contributor to Gov. Greg Abbott (R) and one of the primary figures linked to Abbott’s push for private school vouchers.  

As on most opening days, the Capitol was a bustle of friends, family and other guests here to see their member sworn into office, many for the first time. Less normal were the dozens of people bused in by the people behind the Cook campaign from all across the state to visit offices in a last-ditch attempt to pressure members into voting for their preferred candidate. The official proceedings began at noon when Secretary of State Jane Nelson (R), a former state senator, opened the 89th House Legislative Session as its temporary presiding officer with welcome remarks and swore in new and returning House members.  

After a short break and the adoption of temporary House rules—the main rules to be debated and adopted in the coming days—and a motion on the procedure for electing a House speaker, the chamber got down to the business of nominating and voting for speaker candidates. Three candidates were nominated: Cook, Burrows, and Rep. Ana-Maria Rodriguez Ramos (D–Richardson). Each candidate received four nominating speeches. Despite the animus over the role of Democrats in the election of the speaker, both Burrows and Cook had Democratic members in their line-up of nominators. After the nomination speeches concluded, voting began. To be elected House speaker, a candidate must receive at least 76 votes—50% plus one of the 150 House members, even if not all 150 members are present or voting. This means House members can deny a winner simply by casting their ballot “present not voting” if it means no candidate can get to 76.  

In round one of the vote, Burrows received 71 votes, Cook 56, and Ramos 23. Because no one got 76 votes, the top two moved to a runoff in which Burrows received 85 votes and Cook received 55. Nine representatives chose to vote for neither candidate by selecting “present not voting.” 

After his introduction as the new speaker by Rep. Greg Bonnen (R–League City), the brother of Dennis Bonnen, Burrows spoke briefly and adjourned the House until the following day. The Senate, whose presiding officer is the elected lieutenant governor, adjourned shortly after opening its legislative session at noon.