Flower Mound Rep. Tan Parker Files to Run for Texas House Speaker

AUSTIN — Flower Mound Rep. Tan Parker announced Thursday that he is running for Texas House speaker, the third Republican vying to replace outgoing Speaker Joe Straus.Parker is serving his sixth term in the House. He is the chairman of the House Republican caucus.Straus announced last October that he would not run for re-election, telling reporters that his five terms "is enough." Parker is running against Richmond Rep. John Zerwas, who tends to vote in line with the more moderate House members, and Rep. Phil King, a staunch conservative from Weatherford.After Straus announced his retirement, the House Republicans agreed in December to rally around one candidate to run for speaker. According to the Republican Party of Texas, King and Parker have both committed to supporting the GOP's choice for speaker. Zerwas has not.  Continue reading...