Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan wins GOP primary runoff, fending off challenger backed by Trump

By JIM VERTUNO
Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Republican Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan has won his primary runoff to survive a wave of party turbulence in America’s biggest red state. Phelan defeated challenger David Covey, a former local party chairman and oil and gas consultant. The race was a snapshot of fractures within the GOP nationally and a shakeup in the Texas Capitol could still lay ahead. The bruising primary leaves questions about Phelan’s ability to retain the powerful speakership. In another key Republican runoff, U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzalez was fighting to hold off challenger Brandon Herrera, a gun-rights activist with more than 3 million followers.