Resolution Calling on HD20 Representative Wilson and HD52 Representative Harris Davila to Commit to Voting Only for a Speaker Who Vows to Reject Seating Democrat Committee Chairs

Whereas, in the 2022 Republican Primaries, 81.24% of Republican voters expressed their opposition to the practice of seating Democrats as Committee Chairs when Republicans hold the majority in the Texas House of Representatives. Additionally, ending this practice is the fourth highest legislative priority on the 2024 RPT Platform; Whereas, in January 2023, Representative Wilson met with the Williamson County Republican Party Executive Committee in Sun City and stated he would vote to allow Democrats to serve as Committee Chairs, claiming the necessity of working with Democrats;

Whereas, in the 88th Legislative Session, Dade Phelan was re-elected Speaker of the Texas House despite Republicans holding a clear 86-64 majority. Nevertheless, nine Democrats were appointed to Committee Chairs, including Joe Moody (Criminal Jurisprudence), Abel Herrero (Corrections), Harold Dutton (Juvenile Justice and Family Issues), Victoria Neave Creado (County Affairs), Senfronia Thompson (Select Committee on Youth Health and Safety), Oscar Longoria (Business and Industry), Tracy King (Natural Resources), Bobby Guerra (Resolutions Calendar), and Terry Canales (Transportation);

Whereas, it was reported by Texas Scorecard on June 13, 2023, that forty-eight Conservative bills were killed during the 88th(R) session, including important measures on issues like gender ideology, critical race theory, COVID-19 vaccine mandates, border security, election integrity, voting machines, proof of citizenship to vote, banning red flag laws, and prohibiting ownership of Texas land by citizens of hostile foreign nations – issues central to Conservative values and priorities;

Whereas, in the recent State and Federal elections, the Texas Republican Party gained two seats in the House and one in the Senate; President Trump won the popular vote with approximately 77 million votes, secured the Electoral College with 312 votes, and won Texas by a margin of approximately 13.5 points; Senator Cruz won re-election by approximately 9 points – all demonstrating a strong Republican showing and reflecting the will of the people for strong Conservative leadership;

Whereas, President Trump has repeatedly stated that Speaker Dade Phelan is “weak”, compared him to Mitch McConnell (“a RINO”), and supported Phelan’s primary
challenger;

Whereas, Texas is recognized as the largest Conservative state in the country and a crucial border state, with national implications for the Conservative movement. The country, along with President Trump, relies on Texas to remain a Constitutional Conservative stronghold;

Whereas, it has been widely reported that Speaker Dade Phelan survived his primary runoff with the help of Democrat voters. Phelan has made it clear that he intends to
continue collaborating with Democrats.

Now, therefore be it resolved that the Williamson County Republican Party Executive Committee, as the most directly elected body in Williamson County and the body most closely connected to the will of Republican and Conservative voters, hereby implores our elected Representatives Terry Wilson and Caroline Harris Davila to honor the expressed mandate of the people. Specifically, we call on them to elect a Conservative Republican Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives who will uphold the will of the people by pledging to reject the practice of seating Democrat Committee Chairs.

Be it further resolved that the Williamson County Republican Party Executive Committee urges all Republican members of the Texas House to support a Speaker candidate who will stand for Conservative values and work to ensure that the leadership of the Texas House reflects the priorities of Republican voters, as expressed in the 2022 primaries and throughout the electoral process.

Adopted by a ⅔ majority of the Williamson County Republican Party Executive Committee on November 19, 2024.