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State Rep. John Smithee, R-Amarillo, is the fifth individual to enter the race for Texas Home speaker.
Smithee, a 73-year-old legal professional, is a long-serving Republican state consultant from Amarillo. He is among the most senior members of the Home, serving within the Texas Legislature since 1985. He represents Texas Home District 86, a solidly pink space within the Texas Panhandle that features Armstrong, Dallam, Deaf Smith, Hartley, Oldham, Parmer and Randall counties.
He declared his candidacy on Friday and might be racing towards present Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, and 4 different Home candidates: Tom Oliverson, R-Cypress; Shelby Slawson, R-Stephenville; David Cook dinner, R-Mansfield; and James Frank, R-Wichita Falls.
Smithee sits on the Home Juvenile Justice and Household Points and State Affairs committees.
Smitthee gained recognition for vigorously opposing Lawyer Normal’s Ken Paxton’s 2023 impeachment and delivering a 20 minute speech, criticizing the impeachment course of as opaque, rushed and unfair to the accused. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick praised him for his speech on the shut of the trial.
Out of the 85 Home Republicans who voted, Smithee was one among 23 who opposed Paxton’s impeachment within the Home.
The Senate finally acquitted Paxton of all 16 impeachment articles within the trial. The articles alleged he misused his workplace to assist his buddy and donor Nate Paul and to harass and examine his enemies.
Smithee defeated Jamie Haynes within the 2024 Republican main and is working uncontested in November.
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