Former Texas speaker announces retirement through Chuck Norris video
AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A former Texas speaker of the House announced his retirement is happening in 2026, and he had a unique way of making that announcement on Thursday with the help of a well-known "Texas Ranger."
Dade Phelan posted on X, saying his last political ad for the House was coming from none other than actor Chuck Norris.
"Hey Dade, Chuck Norris here. Thank you for serving Texas, my friend. Good luck in the next chapter of your life in 2026. All the people that walk this journey with you are just as grateful for you as you are for them. The future is bright for southeast Texas in the great state of Texas," Norris said in the video. Norris played Cordell Walker in the TV series "Walker, Texas Ranger" that aired from 1993 to 2001.
Phelan's announcement that he won't seek reelection comes after he withdrew from the race for speaker in December 2024. Ever since his withdrawal, he has continued to serve in the Texas House of Representatives.
Phelan, a Republican, was the House speaker for nearly four years, with his term beginning in January 2021. Before serving as speaker, Phelan served as the Chair of the House Committee on State Affairs, according to the Texas House website. He was elected in 2014 as state representative for District 21.
Since April, Phelan has authored 30 bills in the Texas Legislature, and has joint authored 15, according to the House website.
His most recent bill authored, House Bill 11, focuses on the licensing reciprocity agreements that are entered by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. HB 11 became effective immediately on May 29.
In February 2024, the executive committee with the Republican Party of Texas voted to censure Phelan for his role in the impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton, his appointment of Democrats to chair House committees and more, according to The Texas Tribune.
A censure from the Republican Party of Texas is a formal reprimand against a party member for actions that don't align with the party's principles, according to the Texas GOP website.
The censure came after Paxton called on Phelan to resign at the end of the May 2023 legislative session. He questioned how Phelan conducted the session and claimed he was impaired while overseeing debate on the House floor.
The speaker's office at the time called Paxton's claims a politically-motivated distraction from the House's investigation into Paxton's legal settlement with whistleblowers.
Will DuPree contributed to this report.