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In a surprising move, Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock) has appointed Democrat Joe Moody of El Paso as Speaker Pro Tempore and allocated half of the newly established subcommittee leadership positions to Democratic members, despite Republicans holding a clear majority in the chamber.
This development is particularly noteworthy in Texas, a predominantly conservative state that supported Trump by a 14-point margin in 2024. Burrows secured his position with support from 36 Republican representatives and 49 Democrats, and appears to be rewarding Democratic support through these appointments.
The Speaker’s position was contested by state Rep. David Cook, who campaigned on a platform of limiting Democratic influence by preventing them from holding committee chair positions. However, Cook’s bid fell short, garnering only 55 votes in the final round, as Republicans who opposed him successfully blocked his path to leadership.
Speaker of the Texas House Dustin Burrows has named Democrat Joe Moody as Speaker Pro Tempore. This is in direct violation of the Republican Party platform.
Joe Moody had this position in 2021 during the 87th lege. During that legislative session, dozens of bills were… pic.twitter.com/35JWoXeKCC
— Sarah Fields (@SarahisCensored) February 13, 2025
The appointment of Democrats to chair six of the twelve new subcommittees marks a significant shift in legislative power distribution. These appointments cover crucial areas including defense and veterans affairs, family law, telecommunications, transportation, and property tax appraisals.
“Assigning members to committees is among the most significant and intricate responsibilities of the Speaker — one that demands thoughtful consideration and a delicate balance of many factors,” Burrows said in a statement.
“Taking the time to get this right was not just necessary — it is what Texans deserve of their government, and I am confident these appointments will position the House for a productive, successful session,” he added.
The Democratic appointments went to experienced legislators with previous committee leadership experience. Representative Phillip Cortez will oversee defense and veterans affairs, Harold Dutton will lead family law, Rafael Anchía will manage telecommunications, Terry Canales will direct transportation, and Chris Turner will supervise property tax appraisals.
Furthermore, Democrats received vice chair positions across all 30 standing committees, with new rules potentially expanding their authority to request witness testimony and schedule hearings.
Wow! @Toth_4_Texas just got Dustin Burrows to admit that Hugh Brady, a former Obama staffer and the current parliamentarian, is the one who wrote the recent rules package that boosts Democrat power in the Texas House. pic.twitter.com/46heSfGoyv
— Christian Collins (@CollinsforTX) January 28, 2025
Texas House Democratic Caucus leader Gene Wu expressed satisfaction with the appointments, stating, “Today’s committee assignments by Speaker Burrows demonstrate a commitment to bipartisanship and upholding the institutional norms of the Texas House of Representatives. These appointments position Democrats to effectively advocate for communities across our state.”
This is the same legislative body that previously voted to impeach Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on misconduct allegations in May 2023. The impeachment included 20 articles citing bribery, unfitness for office, and abuse of public trust, though Paxton was later acquitted on all 16 remaining articles by the Texas Senate in September. The impeachment effort was reportedly supported by Republican figures associated with the Bush and Rove political circles.
