Dade Phelan

Texas Republicans reaffirmed their overwhelming control of the state legislature in Tuesday’s election. But a crop of fresh Republican faces in the Texas House could have big implications for the balance of power in the chamber, including the state’s ongoing battle over school vouchers.

Business-minded Republicans spent millions trying to save Phelan, whose far-right opponent had the backing of Donald Trump, Ken Paxton and Dan Patrick. Phelan won by 366 votes, according to unofficial returns.

The Texas Republican Party will kick off its biennial convention Thursday in San Antonio against the backdrop of intraparty animus and early voting in runoff elections that could usher in a new balance of power in the Texas House.

The matchup between Phelan and challenger David Covey represents the wider intraparty war waging among Texas Republicans.

More recently, the party has been engulfed in controversy and infighting — from spats over Attorney General Ken Paxton’s impeachment to ties to white supremacists.

The sergeant-at-arms is the chamber’s chief law enforcement officer. She works as liaison between the House and the Texas Department of Public Safety, ensuring the safety of House members and staff.

Invoices obtained by The Texas Newsroom through an open records request show that the prosecution billed the state about $3.7 million for their legal teams.

The Texas Attorney General was acquitted of 16 articles of impeachment by the Texas Senate in September. He was accused of abusing his office to protect a political donor.

The Legislature also failed to pass election-related bills.

The bill has brought together an unlikely coalition of Republicans and Democrats and may keep lawmakers in Austin even longer.