Texas House Speaker Burrows campaigns to defend GOP majority before midterms

Who's involved

• Dustin BurrowsTexas House Speaker
• Matt ShaheenState Rep., R-Plano
• Kim CarmichaelBurrows spokesperson

The facts

• Republicans have controlled the Texas House since 2003 and won at least 83 of 150 seats in every election since 2010.^{1 2} Stated by 2 sources
• Republicans currently hold 86 House seats to Democrats' 62, with two vacancies in red-leaning districts.^{1 2} Stated by 2 sources
• Democrats would need to flip 14 seats to gain a House majority.^{1 2} Stated by 2 sources
• Burrows is a sixth-term legislator from Lubbock.^{1 2} Stated by 2 sources
• Speaker Burrows held a summit with dozens of Texas Republican House nominees in early June at the Omni Austin Hotel Downtown.^{1 2} Stated by 2 sources

Who said what

These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.

• Attendees at the summit The message was that every Republican must run a real race despite winning districts by decisive margins before, citing a difficult political environment.^{1 2}
• State Rep. Matt Shaheen, R-Plano Burrows has transformed what a speaker does to ensure members return, describing the change as night and day.^{1 2}
• Republican strategists Burrows has pushed candidates even in seemingly comfortable red districts to run like their seats are in play.^{1 2}