The Texas GOP portrayed State Rep. Dustin Burrows as "liberal RINO" with childish behavior in a new ad that it aired on Friday in the Lubbock area in an attempt to turn local voters against the powerful lawmaker who's claimed to have the support that he needs to be the next speaker in the west wing of the Legislature.
The state party characterized the attack ad that it unveiled on social media as the opening shot in a high-level pressure campaign designed to block Burrows' bid for speaker by scaring Republicans in his camp into pledging their loyalty in the leadership fight to State Rep. David Cook instead as the GOP caucus nominee.
"It’s time for @Burrows4TX to support @DavidCookTexas for Speaker," the Texas Republican Party warned in a post on X. "Any lawmaker conspiring with Democrats to undermine our party is unacceptable.
The @TexasGOP will always work to defend the Republican brand and integrity of our party. This ad is only the beginning."
The state party served the anti-Burrows commercial two days after the Lubbock GOP enthusiastically endorsed his campaign for the post that Speaker Dade Phelan decided to give up late last week after months of verbal battering. The contradicting messages could have a mutually diluting effect in the Lubbock area where voters must choose between the party bosses in Austin or those they know at home.
The 30-second spot features a quote from Burrows on how he wanted the House's new leader to have support from a majority of the Republicans in the lower chamber where the party will have 88 seats in 2025. The advertisement claims that Burrows
"stomped out of the room like a child" after losing to Cook in the caucus vote on the speaker endorsement last weekend. A narrator with an ominous voice argues that Burrows is a "liberal RINO because he cut a deal with the Democrats.
"Dustin Burrows sold us out because he only looks out for himself,"
the ad asserts.
Burrows appeared undaunted by the menacing rhetoric - however - as he touted a "Texas Conservative Commitment agenda" with border security, school choice and property tax cuts as the paramount priorities for the regular session that convenes on January 14. The West Texan who's chaired the Calendars Committee for the past four years said in a statement that he wants the House to be ready to hit the ground running on major priorities next year.
Burrows warned supporters and others what to expect the day before the GOP released the ad in the area where he was born and raised and represents now. But Burrows suggested in a post on X that the Republicans in his camp have refused to wilt in the face of unprecedented heat despite several defections to Cook since he defeated the Lubbock representative by six votes in the caucus endorsement count.
"It is deeply troubling to hear of outside tactics of threat and intimidation being used against members on any side of this issue," Burrows said. "I admire the resolve and virtue with which my colleagues are carrying themselves in the midst of these attacks. We have been entrusted by our constituents to lead with statesmanship and integrity. These principles are not only our foundation but also must be defended for the future unity of the Texas House. We must all keep our eyes on the ultimate goal: delivering meaningful results for Texas and your districts this session."
more to come ...
