Texas Speaker of the House Joe Straus is confident that he will remain Speaker for the 84th legislature.
WASHINGTON — Despite potential opposition from conservative groups, Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, is confident that he will be reelected to the speakership when the 84th Texas Legislature convenes in January.
Speaking in Washington after a breakfast with the Texas State Society, a group for Texans in the capital, Straus said he feels state House members are pleased with his leadership.
“I have a hand in setting priorities and making appointments, but it’s really a House run by the members. And I think they like it that way,” Straus said. “I feel very confident in their support.”
In his bid for a fourth term as Speaker, Straus could face opposition from Republican factions that view him as too moderate.
Backed by conservative groups like Empower Texans, Rep. Scott Turner, R-Frisco, is expected to challenge Straus for the House’s top spot.
The threat has Straus playing offense. Over the next month, he will send out mailers to Republican districts that tout the House’s conservative victories under his watch, according to the Houston Chronicle.
If elected, Straus sees getting the different voices within the GOP to harmonize as a major hurdle.
“The challenge is to keep reinforcing that every member’s ideas and opinions are important and considered, within the Republican party and within the House as a whole,” he said.
As for the legislature’s top priorities, Straus named education, water issues, and transportation. He’s optimistic about making progress on them, given the House’s recent record.
“I’ve been very proud of the way the House has come together in the last few sessions on important issues. More often than not you see the most promising legislation passing with large bipartisan majorities,” he said.