LIVE: Rep. Tom Oliverson to make 'major announcement' about Texas House Speaker race
AUSTIN (KXAN) — A Texas Republican lawmaker is set to make a "major announcement" Thursday morning about the race for the House Speaker, sparking speculation about who could vie for the lower chamber's top leadership position if Dade Phelan loses his upcoming primary runoff.
Reporters who regularly cover the Texas Capitol received a message that Texas Rep. Tom Oliverson, R-Cypress, would make a "major announcement regarding the Texas House Speaker's race" at 10 a.m. in Austin. Oliverson, an anesthesiologist, represents House District 130 in northwest Harris County. He currently serves as the vice-chair of the House Republican Caucus.
Whatever he shares Thursday morning comes at a time when House Speaker Dade Phelan is in the fight of his political life. He finished closely behind challenger David Covey in the Republican primary earlier this month, setting up a contentious runoff between the two men in May. Even if Phelan survives this next election, it remains unclear whether he would have enough support in the Texas House among his fellow Republicans to become speaker again.
KXAN will provide a live stream of Oliverson's remarks in this story and on the station's Facebook page starting at 10 a.m.
Oliverson notably carried Senate Bill 14 through the House last year, which ultimately banned transgender minors from receiving certain health care options to assist in their transition. Those include stopping them from getting puberty-blocking medication, hormone therapies and surgeries. The law also puts doctors' medical licenses in jeopardy for providing these treatments.
Five Texas families with transgender children as well as three doctors sued the state in July last year to block Senate Bill 14 from taking effect. Several LGBTQ+ advocacy and civil rights groups backed this effort. In late January, the Texas Supreme Court heard a challenge to the law. A ruling on this case, though, is not anticipated to come for weeks or even months.