Dustin Burrows
| Dustin Ray Burrows | |
 | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 14, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Dade Phelan |
|---|---|
Majority Leader of the Texas House of Representatives
| |
| In office January 8, 2019 – August 16, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Cindy Burkett |
| Succeeded by | Stephanie Klick |
Texas House of Representatives, District 83
| |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 13, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Charles Perry |
| Born | November 14, 1978 Lubbock, Texas |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Elisabeth Burrows |
| Children | Three sons |
| Alma mater | Monterey High School in Lubbock
Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee
Texas Tech University in Lubbock |
Dustin Ray Burrows (born November 14, 1978) is an attorney and businessman in his native Lubbock, Texas, who was elected on January 14, 2025, as Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives. He is the fourth consecutive Moderate Republican Speaker since the accession of Joe Straus of San Antonio, who served from 2009 to 2019. Burrows won his position on the second ballot with support from 49 Democrats in the chamber and 36 dissident fellow Republicans, winning by an overall margin of 85-55. As Speaker, Burrows will consider the practice of nominating some Democrats as committee chairmen. These chairmen can often block conservative proposals from coming to a floor vote in the state House. The practice is strongly opposed by most of the Republican legislators, but each time the conservative bloc, led unsuccessfully in 2025 by David Cook of Mansfield, is outvoted by the Democrat-Moderate Republican coalition.[1]
Burrows represents House District 83,[2] a post to which he was elected in 2014. He is also the former chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee and, briefly, the former chairman of the House Republican Caucus. He has sponsored Senate Bill No. 2 which enables state taxpayers to exert control over local tax rates and tax increases. Since 2021, he has also been the chairman of the House Calendars Committee.
Background
Burrows graduated from Monterey High School in Lubbock and studied at the private Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee. He also holds MBA and law degrees from Texas Tech University in Lubbock. He is a partner in the Texas firm McCleskey, Harriger, Brazill, & Graff.[3] After nomination by the Terry County Republican Party, he won the general election in 2014 with more than 80 percent of the ballots cast over the Democrat Max R. Tarbox.
Future prospects
It is unclear how Burrows will work with Governor Greg Abbott and Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, who is the president of the more conservative state Senate. Will he select Democrats in key position to block Republican initiatives? He has been at odds with state Attorney General Ken Paxton, who had pushed for Cook to become Speaker.
Upon his selection, Burrows wrote on his Facebook page:
"The duty bestowed upon me today as Speaker of the Texas House is one of immense responsibility and honor, and I thank each of my colleagues for their trust and vote of confidence. As Speaker, I stand ready to support every member as we collectively navigate the most pressing issues facing Texans today—issues ranging from improving education to providing additional property tax relief, bolstering water resources, fighting for safer communities, and everything in between.[4]
The last conservative Speaker and longest serving GOP legislator, Tom Craddick of Midland, voted for Burrows.
References
- ↑ Rep. Dustin Burrows voted Texas House speaker in blow to insurgent GOP movement. Burrows defeated Rep. David Cook by a vote of 85-55, relying on a coalition of Republican and Democratic votes.. The Texas Tribune (January 14, 2025).
- ↑ Rep. Burrows, Dustin - District 83 - Texas House of Representatives
- ↑ Alumnus and Attorney Dustin Burrows Recognized as a Rising Star. Rhodes College (May 5, 2013).
- ↑ Burrows statement on election as Speaker. Facebook (January 14, 2025).