State Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford) has announced his intention to run for Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives during the next legislative session.
King, an attorney, is currently the only challenger to Joe Straus' tenure as Speaker. Straus announced last month that he plans to run for a sixth term as speaker in 2019, which would set the record for most consecutive terms by a Texas Speaker.
It is unclear whether King will earn the support of the members of the House Freedom Caucus in 2019. The House Freedom Caucus is one of the leading groups that has been critical of Straus' tenure as speaker.
King is not a member of the organization.
Members of the Texas House will elect a new speaker on the first day of the legislative term in 2019, unless Governor Greg Abbott calls a special session.
