Saying he wasnโt certain of victory and didnโt want to put other members at risk by forcing a vote, Rep. David Simpson, R-Longview, withdrew from the race for House speaker on Tuesday. Watch his full comments from the House floor.
Joe Straus
Straus Re-elected House Speaker by Acclamation
House Speaker Joe Straus won another term in that position after his challenger, Rep. David Simpson, R-Longview, withdrew from the race.
Opening Day: Chambers to Set Rules, Pick Speaker
House Speaker Joe Straus faces a challenge on the first day of the 83rd Texas Legislature, and the Senate gets another run at a rule that empowers political minorities and sometimes frustrates majorities.
For Speaker, a Different Kind of Challenge
House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, has at least one opponent in his bid for a third term in that job, but the circumstances that undid his predecessors in the post don’t exist now.
TribLive: A Conversation with Bryan Hughes
Full video of my 11/15 TribLive conversation with state Rep. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, a declared candidate for speaker of the Texas House.
TribLive: Hughes on the Speaker’s Race
At Thursday morning’s TribLive conversation, state Rep. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, a declared candidate for Speaker of the Texas House, talked about the challenges and opportunities in taking on the current occupant of the job, Joe Straus.
TribLive: New State Reps. on Speaker Politics
At this morning’s TribLive conversation, presumptive incoming state Reps. Stephanie Klick, Chris Paddie and Justin Rodriguez were asked if they were prepared to sign pledge cards for Speaker Joe Straus or his challenger, state Rep. Bryan Hughes.
TribLive: A Post-Primary Debrief with Branch and Martinez Fischer
Full video of my June 1 TribLive conversation with state Reps. Dan Branch, R-Dallas, and Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio.
TribLive: Branch and TMF on Hughes vs. Straus
At this morning’s TribLive conversation, state Reps. Dan Branch, R-Dallas, and Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, discussed the prospect of a Speaker’s race leading up to the 2013 legislative session.
TribLive: Branch and TMF on Straus and the Primaries
At this morning’s TribLive conversation, state Reps. Dan Branch, R-Dallas, and Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, discussed whether Tuesday’s primaries were a referendum on Speaker of the House Joe Straus.


