Texas Republican Party Chairman Allen West is pushing back against State Rep. Dade Phelan’s bid to become the next Speaker of the Texas House, saying the Republican Party of Texas will not support Pehlan for the position.

Phelan, a Beaumont Republican, is believed by many pundits to be the next front runner to replace outgoing Speaker Dennis Bonnen. Phelan announced last week that has amassed enough votes from incoming members to win the position, with support from both Republicans and Democrats.

The support Phelan announced from Democratic legislators caused West to issue a statement this week, pushing back against Phelan’s support from that delegation. An email from West to supporters said the state party “will not support, a potential Texas Speaker of the House who would seek affirmation from progressive socialist Democrats to attain that position.”

West later named Phelan in the email, saying, “Therefore, let me clearly state this: the Republican Party of Texas will not support, nor accept, State Rep. Dade Phelan as Speaker of the Texas House. Texas does not need a Republican political traitor, not at a time when the two diverging philosophies of governance are this lucid.”

The Republican delegation in the Texas House is expected to meet next month to select its preferred candidate among members of its caucus before a full vote when the House convenes in session in January.