David Covey forces runoff with Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, who led AG Ken Paxton’s impeachment

By JIM VERTUNO
Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan is bound for a runoff with GOP challenger David Covey after being bruised by state Attorney General Ken Paxton’s campaign against House incumbents who sought his impeachment. Phelan advances to a May 28 contest with Covey, an oil and gas consultant backed by Paxton and former President Donald Trump. Neither candidate could win an outright victory Tuesday. Paxton launched his political revenge campaign after being acquitted of corruption and abuse of office allegations in a Texas Senate trial in 2023.  His challengers in more than 30 House races and his own candidates have ousted at least five House members and forced at least five more into runoffs though his overall success is still to be seen.