AUSTIN, Texas — State Rep. Tom Oliverson, R-Cypress, announced he’s running for Texas House speaker on Thursday. He’ll challenge current Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, if Phelan gets past his primary runoff election on May 28.

What You Need To Know

  • Oliverson argued Phelan has given too much power to Democrats serving in the chamber and that a new direction is needed

  • Oliverson is an anesthesiologist in his fourth term as a state representative. He said he did not give Speaker Phelan any notice he would challenge him. Phelan appointed Oliverson as chair of the House Committee on Insurance in 2021

  • Phelan said this week he’s confident he’ll win reelection and that his colleagues in the House will elect him speaker again. He’s in a runoff with David Covey in Texas House District 21

  • Phelan responded to Oliverson’s challenge Thursday saying he remains focused on reelecting Republican colleagues in runoffs and strengthening the GOP majority in the Texas House

Oliverson argued Phelan has given too much power to Democrats serving in the chamber and that a new direction is needed.

“The dysfunction in the Texas House during 2023 highlights a need for change at the Capitol,” Oliverson said during a news conference announcing his candidacy in Austin Thursday. “Two weeks ago, Republican voters across Texas sent a strong and unmistakable signal that Texas needs a new paradigm. Ineffective leadership in the House brought about the first. The frustration of the voters underscores the second.”

Oliverson is an anesthesiologist in his fourth term as a state representative. He said he did not give Speaker Phelan any notice he would challenge him. Phelan appointed Oliverson as chair of the House Committee on Insurance in 2021.

Phelan said this week he’s confident he’ll win reelection and that his colleagues in the House will elect him speaker again. He’s in a runoff with David Covey in Texas House District 21. Covey is a political newcomer but has the backing of former President Donald Trump, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Attorney General Ken Paxton, who have railed against Phelan for not being conservative enough and for leading the impeachment vote against Paxton in the House.

Phelan responded to Oliverson’s challenge Thursday, saying he remains focused on reelecting Republican colleagues in runoffs and strengthening the GOP majority in the Texas House.

“As Speaker, I’m focused on winning these races, getting over the finish line and ensuring we start the session united and ready to deliver another banner conservative session for Texans,” Phelan said in a statement to Capital Tonight.

Oliverson was the only House Republican who did not cast a vote on the impeachment of Paxton last year.

“I think the secretive way in which this was handled, surprising members in the waning days of a regular session and giving them less than 72 hours to decide was a colossal failure of leadership,” he said at his Thursday announcement.

Oliverson also said if he was elected speaker, his top priority would be passing a private school voucher program.

“The school choice vote—I think leadership missed the opportunity to protect members by allowing that bill to fail,” he said.