A fifth candidate has jumped into the race to replace outgoing Texas House speaker Joe Straus next year.
Travis Clardy, a Republican from Nacogdoches, filed his paperwork this week to run for Texas Speaker of the House next year. The declaration makes Clardy this sixth person to file paperwork to run for the spot, although incumbent Joe Straus later withdrew, opening up the field to a filing frenzy.
Clardy joins the race, which already includes Republicans Tan Parker, John Zerwas, Phil King and Democrat Eric L. Johnson.
House members will likely decide the next speaker in January.
