Texas has a powerful new House speaker in a blow to the GOP's hard right

Instead, new House Speaker Dustin Burrows secured the position with the backing of the Democrats, who opted for him over a contender endorsed by the Republican Party’s conservative wing.

doesn’t go far enough.

“He will definitely be someone you can have a conversation with,” [said] Democratic state Representative Toni Rose during a nomination speech for Burrows.

Burrows was challenged by State Representative David Cook, who vowed to prevent Democrats from leading committees in the House – a custom that has been practiced by both parties in the past, given the House’s history of striking a balance between the chamber’s more moderate stance and the Senate’s significantly more conservative viewpoint.

Candidates who in recent weeks campaigned against Republicans trying to dispute Cook’s win.

The newly elected speaker is similar to Cook in his policies, but his opponent won over some Republicans who feel Democrats have too much sway over the House of Representatives.

In recent years, Texas has enacted some of the nation’s most stringent restrictions on abortion, immigration, and voting. This year, Republicans have proposed banning the use of public funds for gender-affirming care for adults and offering in-state college tuition discounts for students who are not lawfully residing in the United States.