What to know about Phelan’s primary challenger

David Covey is forcing GOP Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan into a runoff election in his Southeast Texas district — a stunning upset that puts the future of the lower chamber in question.

Covey, a self-proclaimed “political outsider” who has been running to Phelan’s right, came out on top of a heavily funded and closely watched three-person race with about 46% of the vote. Phelan trailed in second at roughly 43%, and hairdresser Alicia Davis pulled in 10%.

Here’s what you should know about Covey and his race:

Covey is an oil and gas consultant from Orange County. He is also a conservative activist and has served as chair of the county Republican Party, according to his campaign website.

Covey touts himself as a “conservative warrior” and promises not to give Democrats any ground if elected to the Texas House.

He has two sons with his wife, Esther.

What’s his platform?

Covey lists nine priorities on his campaign website, starting with a crackdown at the Mexican border. He pledges to file a bill on the first day of the 2025 legislative session “to declare an invasion of our state and authorize DPS to repel invaders at the border,” echoing language used by other Republicans that critics decry as racist and dangerous.

Covey also supports private school vouchers and strict abortion bans. He would like to eliminate property taxes in favor of a higher sales tax and increase criminal and civil penalties for voter fraud. He’s also promised to back legislation that would allow Texans to vote on whether to secede from the U.S.

Who is supporting Covey?

Covey has some major names backing his run for the Texas House, including former President Donald Trump, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Attorney General Ken Paxton and Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller.

Paxton has waged a personal war against Phelan, who led the lower chamber when an overwhelming majority of members voted to impeach the attorney general on corruption charges last May. And Patrick is no fan of the two-term House speaker, with whom he has sparred often in recent months. Covey also has received a majority of his campaign funds from groups bankrolled by far-right West Texas oil tycoons Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks. Gov. Greg Abbott hasn’t gotten involved in this race, though he’s weighed in on other House contests across the state in favor of candidates who support his priority school voucher plan.

What happens in the runoff?

Covey and Phelan now have another two months to campaign in their district, which includes all of Jasper and Orange counties and part of Jefferson County. Expect a bitter and expensive race leading up to the May 28 runoff.

Whoever wins the runoff will be the next representative for House District 21, since there are no Democratic candidates for the heavily Republican seat. If Covey wins, it’ll mark the first time a Texas House speaker has lost reelection since 1972, and his victory would set off a scramble for the gavel within the House Republican Caucus.

If Phelan wins, he’ll head back to Austin for another two years — but he’ll likely face a contentious and difficult path to become speaker again.