Texas has a powerful new House speaker after years of escalating Republican infighting. Dustin Burrows won the job on Tuesday with the support of Democrats who favored him over a challenger backed by the GOP’s emboldened hard right.

AUSTIN — Newly elected Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, struck a conciliatory tone in his victory speech after defeating David Cook, R-Mansfield in what split the GOP.

A leader who learned to keep promises, a chance at chairing committees, and what they see as more chances for a fairer playing field.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who heads the Texas Senate, opposed Burrows’ run for Speaker. He has since released a statement saying both the house and senate are required to pass legislation and he’s “counting” on Burrows to pass conservative legislation.

Dustin Burrows is elected Speaker of the Texas House, signaling potential bipartisanship in addressing state issues.

House Speaker Dade Phelan had been seeking his third session in the leadership role but dropped out of the race on Dec. 6. He’d faced scrutiny from some within the GOP for his leadership, including the appointment of Democrats as committee chairs – a long held House tradition – and the House’s impeachment of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Republican Dustin Burrows of Lubbock was elected Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, with a coalition of Republicans and Democrats supporting him, en

Rep. Dustin Burrows, a Lubbock Republican recently selected as speaker of the Texas House, raised more than $750,000 in political contributions in the first two weeks of December. The sum — raised in the final sprint before state lawmakers are barred from fundraising until June 23,

With the election of Dustin Burrows to House Speaker, Democrats are hoping to hang on to a few committee chairs.