Members of the Texas House have chosen attorney Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock) — a known quantity among some local politicos — to serve as House Speaker for the 89th Legislative Session.
Burrows is best-known in local circles for his work on a 2023 super preemption law that was cheered by business groups but loathed by organized labor and municipal leaders who dubbed it the “Death Star” bill.
He was also part of a leaked recording in 2019 that detailed he and then-House Speaker Dennis Bonnen’s plans to target some of their own members in primary races and crack down on the authority of local governments.
On Tuesday, however, Burrows was elected speaker with the support of many Democrats — including all seven Democrats who represent San Antonio — who said they believed he’d give them their best shot at having their perspectives represented in the next session.
“Whether your district is urban or rural, coastal or border, your constituents sent you here to ensure their children can prosper, their communities can grow, and their hope for their future does not diminish,” Burrows said in an acceptance speech after the vote. “I commit to you today, every member will have a voice. Every district will have a seat at the table.”
Burrows was up against a nominee from the conservative wing, state Rep. David Cook (R-Mansfield), who had experience in local politics and the more collaborative reputation of the two.
But Cook, who was Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s pick for the role, vowed to support a list of conservative priorities including a controversial proposal to exclude Democrats from any committee chairmanships.
Burrows ultimately secured 85 votes to Cook’s 55 in the runoff, though all three Republicans who represent San Antonio voted for Cook.
After Democratic state Rep. Ana-María Rodríguez Ramos (D-Richardson) was eliminated in the first round of the speaker’s race, nine Democratic members declined to cast a vote for either of the two Republican candidates.
New House landscape
Headed into this session, Republicans control 88 seats while Democrats control 62.
A number of the GOP’s more moderate members lost their seats in the primary, meaning there are many new faces.
It’s unclear exactly what Democrats will get for helping Burrows into the powerful speaker’s role.
At one point Burrows was rumored to have cut a deal over school vouchers to garner Democrats’ support, but denied that idea in a recent interview with the Texas Tribune, saying only that he planned to respect the tradition of allowing Democrats to chair committees.
“Property taxpayers need relief. Our public schools need support. Our water infrastructure needs investment. We need to address the threats of terrorism on the heels of a Texan conducting an attack on New Year’s Day,” Burrows said. “These aren’t Republican issues or Democrat issues. They’re Texas issues.”
Last week, state Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer (D-San Antonio) said he’d never seen a speaker’s race in which Republicans were so divided, yet the candidates weren’t willing to make significant compromises to bring Democrats to their side.
“I think that when somebody shows you who they are the first time, you better believe them,” Martinez Fischer said.
On Tuesday, Democratic state Rep. Toni Rose (D-Dallas) offered a more optimistic perspective for her party.
“Dustin Burrows is committed to fairness and protecting the traditions of this House,” said Rose, who spoke in favor of his nomination. “He stood on the front lines to ensure the passage of my bill to extend postpartum care for 12 months when I was having issues. He was the first one to say, ‘What can I do to help?’”
Burrows’ San Antonio ties
Burrows, age 46, had been on a leadership path several years ago, but stepped down from his role chairing the Texas House GOP Caucus after the 2019 recording was leaked.
During that recorded conversation, Bonnen famously said if any city or county leader was “dumb-ass enough” to come meet with him, he was clear about his plans to make that year “the worst session in the history of the legislature for cities and counties.”
Burrows chimed in on the matter, adding that he hoped “the next session is even worse.”
To some local leaders, Burrows’ House Bill 2127 — known by critics as the “Death Star Bill” — was a manifestation of those goals.
It aimed to prevent a “patchwork” of regulations between cities, by restricting cities from regulating business in ways that the state hasn’t already given express authority to do so.
San Antonio city leaders deemed the legislation an affront on local control and joined other major Texas cities in a lawsuit to stop it from taking effect.
“This is big government overreach, plain and simple, and it demonstrates the dangers of a radical agenda being codified session after session at the capital,” Mayor Ron Nirenberg said at the time.
Among those who supported the idea were Councilman Marc Whyte (D10) and local politico Eddie Aldrete, who brought Burrows to San Antonio to record an Aug. 11, 2023, episode of Aldrete’s Beyond the Bite podcast on the law.
“I think he understands that we have an economy here in San Antonio that is built upon small businesses,” said Whyte, an attorney who met Burrows while working together on a case several years ago. “I think he’s going to be a great ally for San Antonio during his time as speaker.”
Here’s a breakdown of how Bexar County’s delegation voted:
| Member | How they voted |
| Diego Bernal (D) | Burrows |
| Elizabeth Campos (D) | Burrows |
| Philip Cortez (D) | Burrows |
| Mark Dorazio (R) | Cook |
| Josey Garcia (D | Burrows |
| Barbara Gervin-Hawkins (D) | Burrows |
| Marc LaHood (R) | Cook |
| Ray Lopez (D) | Burrows |
| John Lujan (R) | Cook |
| Trey Martinez Fischer (D) | Burrows |
