Texas Political Spotlight

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Attorney General Ken Paxton and GOP Chairman Abraham George are on a Texas tour rallying support for David Cook as Speaker of the House. Meanwhile, Southern Methodist University is preparing to welcome its new president, Jay Hartzell, who is transitioning from UT Austin. Across the state, Texans are bracing for our annual arctic blast, with ERCOT assuring the public that the power supply will remain stable despite the cold. Finally, Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Jimmy Blacklock as Chief Justice and James P. Sullivan as Justice, Place 2, on the Supreme Court of Texas, with their terms set to expire in 2026

Today’s Insights:

• Ken Paxton Hits the Road to Share His Stance on the Speaker Race
• Goodbye Longhorns, Hello Mustangs
• Cold Temperatures, Confident ERCOT

Ken Paxton Hits the Road to Share His Stance on the Speaker Race

On Monday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Texas GOP Chairman Abraham George launched a statewide tour to publicly support Representative David Cook for Speaker of the House. At a rally in Fort Worth, Paxton and George argued that Cook, who secured support from the House GOP Caucus, should be Speaker over Representative Dustin Burrows. Paxton emphasized that grassroots Republicans want conservatives leading the House, rather than moderate Republicans working with Democrats to choose the Speaker. He criticized the practice of a Speaker being chosen with Democratic votes, claiming it hindered Republican priorities for the past 16 years.

"If the Speakership is controlled by a block of Democratic votes, which it has been since Joe Straus, it prevents Republicans who are elected to get certain things done, from getting their priorities done. That's been happening for the past 16 years and I think this is the first time we've really had the chance to expose that."

- Attorney General Ken Paxton

Paxton and George also called for Republicans to hold all committee chair positions, ending the tradition of including both parties in leadership roles. They urged veteran Republican Representatives Charlie Geren, Giovanni Capriglione, and newcomer John McQueeney to support Cook. Paxton and George made it clear that they aim to challenge any Republican supporting Burrows in future primaries. Paxton stated:

“We need to go after every one of those guys that tells us that they're Republican, but they don't stand up and vote for a Republican speaker”

The full Texas House will vote for Speaker on January 14, with 76 votes needed to win.

Goodbye Longhorns, Hello Mustangs

Jay Hartzell, president of the University of Texas at Austin since 2020, will step down to become the next president of Southern Methodist University in Dallas beginning on June 1st. SMU’s Board of Trustees unanimously selected Hartzell for the role, citing his strong leadership and academic achievements. During his tenure at UT-Austin, Hartzell guided the university through significant growth, including increased academic selectivity, higher graduation rates, and a $1 billion fundraising milestone to support students. His leadership also required navigating high-profile political and cultural tensions that brought national attention to the university, shaping its trajectory during a transformative period. During his tenure, UT-Austin also transition to the Southeastern Conference.

At SMU, Hartzell aims to build on the university’s current momentum, including its successes in academics, athletics, and fundraising. SMU’s leadership highlighted his extensive experience and vision as key to advancing the private university’s goals in a thriving city like Dallas. Hartzell’s move marks a major leadership change in Texas higher education and leaves an open position at UT-Austin. The UT System Board of Regents plans to address the transition in February, with discussions on interim leadership and next steps for the flagship institution.

SMU’s stellar – and rising – national reputation, decades of extraordinary internal and external leadership, strong board of trustees, accomplished alumni, and impressively strong and diverse students and faculty made this an opportunity that Kara and I could not pass up. I look forward to building upon the University’s remarkable momentum and leading SMU into its next era.”

- Jay Hartzell

Cold Temperatures, Confident ERCOT

An arctic blast hit Texas on Monday, plunging temperatures into the low 20s in some areas, but the Electric Reliability Council of Texas has assured residents that power disruptions are not expected this week. Meteorologists predict snow and ice later this week, with North Texas potentially seeing 1 to 5 inches of snow, while Central Texas will likely experience icy conditions. Despite the weather watch issued by ERCOT, the state’s energy reserves remain well above the threshold for emergency measures, ensuring a stable grid.

The National Weather Service cautioned Texans about icy roads, especially from Thursday to Friday, and urged preparedness. The Texas Division of Emergency Management recommended stocking up on groceries, checking on neighbors, and protecting pipes and plants. A polar vortex, which caused the imfamous 2021 Winter Storm Uri, is the source of this cold snap, and although conditions are expected to be frigid, ERCOT remains confident in the state's grid capacity.

Stay up to date with ERCOT metrics here: Grid and Market Conditions

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