May 28, 2024

Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan beats right-wing challenger David Covey in crucial GOP runoff

House Speaker Dade Phelan survived an unusually tough and bitter GOP primary challenge against David Covey and secured a sixth term in the Legislature’s lower chamber.

Phelan narrowly beat right-wing challenger David Covey, an oil and gas consultant, with about 51% of the vote in the Beaumont-area district, according to unofficial returns. Covey had 49%. The difference was fewer than 400 votes.