Former Texas House Speaker Phelan Steps Away After Tumultuous Tenure

Former Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan announced Thursday that he will not seek reelection to the Legislature, ending more than a decade representing his Beaumont district. Phelan, who served as speaker from 2021 to 2025, oversaw the passage of key conservative priorities including permitless carry, a near-total abortion ban, and new immigration enforcement measures, but his tenure was also marked by controversy after the House impeached Attorney General Ken Paxton — a move that drew fierce backlash from the right and left him politically vulnerable. Though he narrowly survived a bruising 2024 primary, Phelan later gave up his bid to remain speaker as many of his allies were ousted by challengers opposed to his leadership. Calling his time in office “the greatest privilege of my professional life,” Phelan said he chose retirement after reflecting with his family but did not rule out future political ambitions, vowing to seek “God’s path” for his next chapter.