Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, was elected speaker of the Texas House on Tuesday, concluding a bitter and intense power struggle within the Republican Party that came down to an extraordinary floor vote to decide who would fill one of the most powerful positions in state government.

AUSTIN — Texas House lawmakers elected Republican Rep. Dustin Burrows as speaker Tuesday, shortly after the Legislature’s 89th regular session began.

Rep. Dustin Burrows of Lubbock, left, joined by his wife, Elizabeth, and their children is sworn in by Secretary of State Jane Nelson after being voted in the the House speaker position on the opening day of the legislative session. Michael Minasi / KUT News

Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, shakes hands with Rep ... Critics of Cook said they worried the House, if he became speaker, would be too beholden to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and forces outside the House. Burrows on Tuesday said the issues facing Texas didn ...

DALLAS — The election of State Representative Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock ... Speaker of the majority party,” Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick told us on Inside Texas Politics.

Dustin Burrows was elected as Speaker of the House on Tuesday ... Cook received the backing of high profile Republicans, including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Attorney General Ken Paxton and Donald Trump Jr. Phelan, who dropped out of the Speaker race, was ...

The trial lawyer from Lubbock has served in the House since 2015, slowly building his stature and overcoming a scandal in 2019.

Since then, the vast majority of House speakers have been elected by acclamation or with more than 140 votes. Even Rep. Dade Phelan, whom hard-right Republicans forced from seeking a third term, received 143 votes in 2021 and 145 in 2023.

After weeks of Republican infighting and a tumultuous primary season that saw moderates face off against extremists in Texas’ lower chamber, State Rep. Dustin B

While new House rules prevent Democrats from leading committees, it increases the power of the vice-chair position which will still give Democrats some say in legislation.

Although Democrats will be prohibited from chairing the main legislative committees, the chamber voted to expand the powers they can have as vice chairs.

Texas lawmakers are looking to spend billions of dollars to create a school voucher-like program, raise teacher pay, shore up water infrastructure, and continue the border crackdown.