There are 65 Democrats in the Texas House (which has a total size of 150). These 65 vote as a block.
So if you want to be Speaker, you give those 65 Democrats what they want, and vote with them on matters that are very important to them. So you get their votes. Then you promise 10 friends positions on the most powerful committees. So you get their votes. Plus you vote for yourself. Voila.
So... those 65 Democrats functionally rule the House on matters that are of extreme sensitivity to the Democrat party.
From Tucker's interview of Paxton...
There are 65 Democrats in the Texas House (which has a total size of 150). These 65 vote as a block.
So if you want to be Speaker, you give those 65 Democrats what they want, and vote with them on matters that are very important to them. So you get their votes. Then you promise 10 friends positions on the most powerful committees. So you get their votes. Plus you vote for yourself. Voila.
So... those 65 Democrats functionally rule the House on matters that are of extreme sensitivity to the Democrat party.
This...got to take a good portion of those seats, plus the 10 rep friends.