The 89th Session: Democrats’ Chance to Exploit GOP Infighting

Will Democrats stay united while the GOP tears itself apart?

The 89th Legislative Session starts in only 50 days, but the drama surrounding the key players in Austin has already reached a fever pitch. Yesterday, Representative Jared Patterson (R-HD106) was interviewed on CBS 11, where he talked about backing Dade Phelan (R-HD21) to return as Speaker and the compromises they made with Democrats.

Patterson said, “The grifters who go out there and make money off of primary races have to drum up everybody on an issue so that they could continue to make money in the primaries.”

He has a point because having Democratic Chairs in Committees hasn’t stopped some of the worst legislation from passing. However, according to Patterson, working cohesively with the minority party is essential for passing the budget bills and the constitutional amendments, which need 100 votes.

Some Republicans didn’t take too kindly to Patterson’s interview.

Newly elected Mitch Little (R-HD65) challenged Patterson to a debate.

Then, he stated that Patterson committed “lawfare” against Ken Paxton and that Democratic Chairs were part of a system he plans to replace.

Newly elected Brent Money (R-HD02) equated giving Democrats chairmanships to putting them in charge.

Newly elected Andy Hopper (R-HD63) said Democrats shouldn’t pick the Speaker.

And the Chair of the Republican Party of Texas said that “some Republicans want to hand over the Texas House to Democrats.”

The new Republicans coming into the House, there are 26 of them, are rabid… feral, even. Most of them got elected by bringing down their Republican opponents, painting them as secret Democrats uninvested in the Conservative ideas of hate.

Bipartisanship is now treacherous, and no real Conservative would ever be caught dead in making deals with the enemy.

Who is in the Speaker’s race now?

Speaker Dade Phelan, Representative David Cook (R-HD96), and Representative John Bryant (D-HD114).

The Texas House has 150 members. Eighty-eight are Republicans, and 62 are Democrats. To win the vote as Speaker, one must get 76 votes. Democrats do not have the numbers to win, and as polarized as things are, there is no way 14 Republicans would cross the aisle to vote on Speaker.

Right now, neither Republican running for Speaker has the votes in the Republican caucus to win. So, the question becomes: What will Democrats do?

There are two options:

1. Hold out their votes, only voting for a Democratic Speaker—which they won’t win.

2. Make a deal with one of the Republican Speaker candidates, specific Democratic priorities in exchange for the votes.

Many people, especially on the progressive side, agree that Democrats should not vote for any Republicans, no matter what. If that is the case, it may lead to a few days of chaos within the House, and perhaps neither Republican Speaker candidate makes it—maybe a third, unknown candidate can bring the entire GOP caucus together without blue assistance.

Then, Republicans move forward with their agenda without Democratic Chairs, without bipartisanship with the other side, and they pass all of their nasty culture war bills. But Democrats could permanently block their budget and constitutional bills.

Or, maybe they can make a deal with Dade Phelan to get Democratic Chairmanships. Perhaps they can also throw school vouchers on the table. Say that if they give him their vote, he pledges to block any voucher bills from the floor. Would Dade be willing to take such a risky move?

And perhaps now that’s why we have a fight for the Chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus.

According to the Quorum Report today, John Bryant announced his bid to become Chair of the House Democratic Caucus. Trey Martinez-Fischer currently holds this position.

After the last legislative session, Bryant turned a few heads with an interview with Texas Monthly. In it, he essentially called the rest of the Democratic caucus weak and said they weren’t fighting hard enough (paraphrasing).

Scott Braddock, editor of the Quorum Report, reported that Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Trey Martinez-Fischer said, “I welcome John Bryant to the race for Caucus Chair, and like all Texas Democrats, I look forward to his $10 million commitment regardless if he prevails in this race.”

The best opportunity for Democrats right now is to lean into the Republican Civil War and let the factions within the GOP destroy one another. The GOP is already deeply divided between the more pragmatic Republicans willing to compromise on procedural matters, like Dade Phelan, and the far-right newcomers who see bipartisanship as betrayal. Democrats can—and should—exploit these fractures.

For this strategy to succeed, Democrats must unite around a clear goal: creating maximum instability within the Republican ranks while safeguarding Democratic priorities wherever possible.

A fractured caucus cannot effectively exploit GOP infighting.

The fight between John Bryant and Trey Martinez-Fischer for Democratic Caucus Chair symbolizes the broader question: Should Democrats play hardball and refuse compromise, or should they negotiate selectively for strategic gains?

I’m not sure it’s a fight—it could be just friendly sparring. Regardless of the outcome of the leadership race, Democrats must present a unified front in the Speaker vote. A splintered caucus will give Republicans the leverage to coalesce and move forward with their agenda.

The GOP is already eating itself alive. All Democrats need to do is hand them a bigger fork. By fostering division, refusing to play by the GOP’s rules, and seizing key moments to secure progressive wins, Democrats can ensure that this session begins with Republicans in disarray—and stays that way.

What do you think?

Ultimately, the 89th Legislative Session offers Texas Democrats a rare opportunity to shift power dynamics in the House—not by sheer numbers, but by playing smarter.

The GOP’s internal war is already raging, and if Democrats stay disciplined, they can use this chaos to their advantage. Whether it’s holding out for meaningful concessions or simply allowing Republicans to implode under the weight of their own infighting, the path forward requires a unified strategy and an unwavering commitment to progressive priorities.

The stakes couldn’t be higher. This session will shape the future of public education, reproductive rights, and countless other issues directly impacting Texans’ lives. By refusing to give the GOP a pass and demanding accountability at every turn, Democrats can demonstrate what real leadership looks like—even in the minority.

The question isn’t whether Republicans will fight among themselves—they already are. The question is whether Democrats will seize this moment to survive and win.

Let’s hope they’re ready.

• December 9: House Administration Committee meets to debate rules.

• January 14: The 89th Legislative Session begins.

• March 14: The last day Legislators can file bills.

• June 2: The 89th Legislative Session ends.

LoneStarLeft’s Newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Follow me on Facebook, TikTok, Threads, YouTube, and Instagram.