Texas Democrats Emboldened by Speaker Burrows' win

State Rep. Dustin Burrows (R) won the speakership in early January, generating cheers from Democrats and sighs from Republicans. With a new speaker, Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu (D) is hopeful, suggesting that Speaker Burrows has emboldened Democrats in Texas.

In a recent interview discussing the upcoming legislative session under Speaker Burrows, Chair Wu shared his cautious optimism, noting that Speaker Burrows has the opportunity to foster bipartisanship and address critical issues that Texans are facing.

“I think we have a Speaker now who understands that sometimes the best person for a committee may not be a Republican, but might be a Democrat,” Chair Wu said. “I think they’re going to see who is the best for the job before they determine, well, you’re disqualified by the letter behind your name.”

Burrows’ victory is considered an upset in Texas politics as the top officials in the state clamored for state Rep. David Cook (R), who won the nomination last year, and who is considered a principled conservative when compared to Speaker Burrows. However, in the eyes of Democrats, a Speaker Cook would have upheld a status quo that would've only helped the elite.

“I think what Texans should see is you finally now have a body of people who is standing up to money, who is standing up to the billionaires, who is standing up to the bullying, who is standing up to the outside, out-of-state influences that are trying to tell us what we need instead of us telling what we need,” Chair Wu expressed.

With critical issues like public education funding, healthcare access, and infrastructure looming over the state, Chair Wu now sees an opportunity for the legislature to shift its focus.

“We’re here five times a decade. How about one of those five times we actually do the things that Texans need us to do and fix the things that Texans need us to fix? The other four times? Sure, pass whatever nonsense, bullsh** bill you want, but one time out of a decade, let’s fix things,” he urged.