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The Beaumont Republican was expected to go toe-to-toe with Rep. David Cook. The caucus holds a meeting Saturday to ultimately decide who they will be backing.
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Phelan, a Beaumont Republican, had previously insisted he had enough votes to thwart a challenge from the right led by state Rep. David Cook of Mansfield.
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The two-term Republican caught many Capitol observers off guard when he emerged as the standard-bearer for a coalition that wants to depose Phelan and reshape how the House operates.
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Phelan appears to lack support from the majority of House Republicans, but he could still win with some Democratic support.
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Perry is Texas’ longest-serving governor who also served as a state representative, lieutenant governor and agriculture commissioner.
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Phelan placed a close second behind Covey, a former Orange County Republican Party chairman, in the first round of the primary for East Texas’ House District 21 in March.
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The Beaumont Republican issued his interim charges even as it remains unclear whether he’ll be reelected.