Tom Oliverson Launches Bid for Texas House Speakership, Challenges Dade Phelan

State Rep. Tom Oliverson announces his candidacy for Texas House speaker, citing the need for alignment with Republican priorities and criticizing Phelan's leadership.

• Tom Oliverson, a fourth-term state representative and anesthesiologist from Cypress, officially announces his challenge to current Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan.
• Oliverson criticizes Phelan for ceding too much power to Democrats and for his handling of the impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton.
• The announcement comes as Phelan faces a tough runoff election in his district, with some Republicans questioning his ability to continue as speaker.
• Oliverson, viewed as a reliably conservative and hardworking member, aims to realign the House with Republican priorities, including support for private school vouchers.
• The race for the speakership heats up 10 months before the Texas House convenes to elect the next speaker, with Oliverson being the first to publicly announce his candidacy.

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