Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has a message for Republican state legislators: Don’t mess with the Texas speaker’s race – or else.
The far-right attorney general – a staunch ally of President-elect Donald Trump – announced on New Year’s Eve that he would embark on a statewide tour of districts where incumbent Republican state representatives are reportedly working with Democratic lawmakers to elect a speaker who doesn’t have his support.
“Take this as a warning. If you’re making deals with Democrats to block a Republican majority-elected speaker, expect a primary challenge,” Paxton said in a statement posted to his X account. “Texans deserve leadership that reflects their values. There is still time for these incumbents to make the right decision.”
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Paxton’s strongarm of the group of state GOP legislators – who he called out by name and House district in the statement – comes after Republican Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan dropped out of the race earlier this month. Phelen has faced heat from Paxton and his conservative base for presiding over Paxton’s impeachment proceedings last year, The Associated Press reported.
Paxton said Tuesday that his tour “is about accountability.”
“Incumbents who made similar ill-fated decisions two years ago, including wrongfully attempting to impeach me, are not returning this legislative session,” Paxton said in his statement. He added that voters expect the Republican-controlled House of Representatives to elect a speaker “by a majority of Republican state representatives.”
Paxton’s two-day tour will take off Jan. 6.
