Rep. Joe Straus formally re-elected as Texas House speaker

AUSTIN — Texas House Speaker Joe Straus won a second term in a lopsided election this afternoon. Straus, a San Antonio Republican, was chosen as speaker by a vote of 132-15, after his last GOP opponent, Rep. Ken Paxton of McKinney, said he wouldn’t permit his name to be placed in nomination.
Garrett: http://dallasne.ws/hnQAnL

Anti-Straus votes cast by 8 North Texas Rs

In the speaker's election just concluded, these eight Republican  House members from Dallas-Fort Worth voted "nay" on the re-election of incumbent Joe Straus:

Cindy Burkett, R-Mesquite
Dan Flynn, R-Van
Phil King, R-Weatherford
Jodie Laubenberg, R-Parker
Tan Parker, R-Flower Mound
Ken Paxton, R-McKinney
Van Taylor, R-Plano
Bill Zedler, R-Fort Worth

http://dallasne.ws/giKnRi

Nonbinding vote by GOP caucus favors San Antonio Rep. Joe Straus to continue as Texas House speaker

AUSTIN – House Republicans rebuffed outsiders and stuck by Speaker Joe Straus on Monday. In a resounding vote of confidence, 70 of 100 Republicans at an unusual party caucus stood in support of Straus, defying tea party activists who say Straus isn't conservative enough. Garrett and Hoppe sum up yesterday's action:
Garrett and Hoppe sum up yesterday's action: http://dallasne.ws/dGaXrQ

Oops, not so fast, Ken! Chisum for Straus

Contrary to a news release last night by Rep. Ken Paxton, his fellow Straus challenger Warren Chisum is not voting for Paxton today -- but for Straus, according to a statement just issued by Chisum's office.

Garrett: http://dallasne.ws/hCG4E0

Tea Party handed out Wet Wipes for Republicans to "wash their hands" of a bad decision

Many Tea Partiers, who waited in great anticipation to hear the results coming from the Republican caucus meeting, did not give up the fight even after hearing Rep. Joe Straus came out ahead over their preferred candidate.

Mulvaney was there: http://dallasne.ws/fn8ctk

San Antonio Rep. Joe Straus wins another term as Texas House speaker

Seventy of the chamber's 100 Republicans stood in support of Straus in a closed door session, said Rep. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, the GOP caucus chairman. Hoppe reports: http://dallasne.ws/dGaXrQ

Taylor: No legal problems with caucus meeting

House Republican Caucus Chairman Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, has just told supporters of
Speaker Joe Straus that he sees no legal problems with holding a caucus meeting on Monday to possibly coalesce around "the Republican" candidate for speaker. (My quotes, not his.)

Garrett: http://dallasne.ws/dOffPF

Dallas County Republicans call for GOP caucus to select Texas House speaker

AUSTIN – Dallas County's GOP has urged Republican state representatives to unite behind a single conservative candidate for House speaker in a party caucus before the session begins next week. Late Monday, the county party's executive committee adopted a resolution that says the GOP swept last year'scongressional and state legislative elections because voters were "embracing a conservative approach to governance."

 http://dallasne.ws/dO4gCI

Eagle Forum calls speaker vote crucial

The social conservative group Texas Eagle Forum today put House members on notice that their vote for speaker will account for half of the group's rating of them this session.
http://dallasne.ws/gGtfty

Paxton wins more outside-the-House support; women behind anti-Straus ad step forward

Former United Nations Ambassador John Bolton today endorsed Ken Paxton for Texas House speaker. Bolton, who doesn't have a say in the matter, said Paxton's bid to oust incumbent Joe Straus has national implications because of redistricting and border security.
Garrett: http://dallasne.ws/fEvXNE

Craddick loyalist Woolley backs Straus

State Rep. Beverly Woolley, R-Houston, today announced she'll support a second term as speaker for Joe Straus, R-San Antonio . Woolley, a staunch ally of former Speaker Tom Craddick, R-Midland, said she believes Straus will deliver a conservative product next session.


Garrett reports: http://dallasne.ws/h8fnMx

Hardcastle says he, 2 others, not anti-Straus

Rep. Rick Hardcastle, R-Vernon, says he signed a letter demanding a House GOP caucus meeting because he wants to get the speaker's race over, not because he's switched horses in midstream.




Garrett: http://dallasne.ws/fFh3Ty

Chisum throws down the gauntlet, calls for meeting of House GOP caucus

Rep. Warren Chisum today announced that he and nine other anti-Straus House Republicans formally will call for a meeting of the chamber's GOP caucus on Jan. 5, nearly a week before the start of the new session.

The intent is to break with Texas tradition and force selection of the next speaker to occur within a party caucus.

Garrett: http://dallasne.ws/fhoZqo

Van Taylor backs Paxton for speaker

Collin County freshman Rep. Van Taylor, R-Plano, has endorsed fellow Collin County lawmaker Ken Paxton, R-McKinney, for House speaker, bringing Paxton's public pledge list to 12. Seventy six votes are needed to be the top dog in the 150-member House.

Robert T. Garrett has the latest: http://dallasne.ws/fznpcl

Texas legislator denies targeting foes of House Speaker Joe Straus

AUSTIN – The unnamed House member whom Rep. Bryan Hughes accused of planning to take revenge on opponents of Speaker Joe Straus turned out to be the vice chairman of the House investigating committee that addressed the complaint Tuesday.
http://dallasne.ws/fAyqfK

Zedler, two West Texas freshmen back Paxton

Returning Fort Worth GOP lawmaker Bill Zedler (right, photo courtesy of Zedler campaign) has endorsed Collin County Rep. Ken Paxton for House speaker. That's not surprising, given that Zedler was a loyal supporter to the end of former SpeakerTom Craddick, R-Midland, and that he yanked his name from incumbent Speaker Joe Straus' pledge list the day after this month's election.

Garrett: http://dallasne.ws/fSxKGS

'Tough duty,' says trail-driving Chisum

"I think me and Paxton are on the same little inner tube," he mused. "So maybe we go down at the same time. It may be one of those water wing things. ... You know, they cost 10 bucks and you put your kid out there in them and dadgum! The kid went down when the water wings went down!"
http://dallasne.ws/bzIMJr

Burkett for Paxton for speaker

Rep.-elect Cindy Burkett, R-Mesquite, just endorsed the speakership candidacy of Collin County lawmaker Ken Paxton, R-McKinney.

Garrett: http://dallasne.ws/aJZcTh

Paxton endorsed by newbies Sheets, Simpson

Newly elected Reps. Kenneth Sheets, R-Dallas, and David Simpson , R-Longview, today endorsed the speakership candidacy of four-term House lawmaker Ken Paxton, R-McKinney. It brought to four the number of Paxton's GOP colleagues who've publicly pledged to vote for him to replace incumbent Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio , in January.

http://dallasne.ws/bMEDvR

Speaker candidates condemn e-mails injecting religion into race

Reps. Warren Chisum and Ken Paxton, conservative Republicans who've launched long-shot bids to unseat House Speaker Joe Straus, on Wednesday condemned campaign e-mails that have introduced candidates' religions. E-mails, some of unknown origin, have surfaced in recent days that mention Straus' rabbi and underscore the Christian faith of his leading critics in the House Republican Caucus. One e-mail promises that "Straus is going down in Jesus' name."

Garrett reports: http://dallasne.ws/dycl9V