"Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan Faces Tough Re-Election Battle"

Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan is trailing in early primary voting returns, indicating his precarious position within the Republican Party. His main rival, David Covey, has been endorsed by prominent figures such as Attorney General Ken Paxton, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, and former President Donald Trump. The race has become a measure of the influence of the far-right wing of the Republican Party, with Covey positioning himself as the true conservative in the race. Despite facing criticism and unpopularity among Republican leaders, Phelan is aiming to secure reelection in his southeast Texas district.