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The Associated Press projects that Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan will survive a Republican primary runoff election challenge by David Covey.
Phelan’s victory in a state House district east of Houston is seen as a political setback for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and former President Donald Trump, as well as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
Phelan oversaw the effort last year to impeach Paxton over corruption charges. Paxton was acquitted by the state Senate after the House overwhelmingly impeached the controversial attorney general.
CONTROVERSIAL MOVE: ABBOTT PARDONS ARMY SERGEANT WHO KILLED BLM PROTESTER
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, left, and Gov. Greg Abbott talk during the first day of the 88th Texas Legislative Session in Austin, Texas, Jan. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
In response, Paxton targeted over 30 GOP incumbent state representatives, with Phelan at the top of the list. Paxton’s most powerful ally, Trump, endorsed Covey.
Meanwhile, Abbott was looking for payback over the downing in the state House last year of his education plan that would have opened the spigot for taxpayer funding of private schools. The school voucher measure, which was Abbott’s top legislative item last year, passed the state Senate, but its downing in the state House was a rare political setback for the three-term governor.
HEAD HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS 2024 PRIMARY ELECTION RESULTS
Nine GOP state House lawmakers went down to defeat in the state’s March primary, with eight more forced into runoffs. All were targeted by…
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