The Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales from Texas won by a narrow margin his primary against a gun rights activist who pushed him into a brutal run-off that threatened the removal of a U.S. House incumbant.

Dade Phelan is another prominent Texas Republican who won the state House Speaker’s race. He also defeated a right-wing challenger backed by Donald Trump.

Both were won by razor thin margins. This reflects the anger of conservative hardliners and a wave in party turmoil that has swept America’s largest red state, over votes which went against party lines and the impeachment state Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Gonzales defeated Brandon Herrera – a gun enthusiast known as “The AK Guy”. He attacked Herrera for his positions which angered Texas’ hard right Republicans. Gonzales supporters had warned that losing Tuesday’s elections could allow Democrats to take over the district come November.

During the election campaign, Herrera attacked Gonzales over his past criticisms of immigration hardliners and support for a gun safety bill following the Uvalde 2022 school shooting that occurred in Gonzales district.

In the general election in November, Gonzales will be facing Democrat Santos Limon.

In an April interview with CNN, Gonzales, who was criticized for being a conservative within the GOP by his critics, called some of those hard-right members of Congress “scumbags”.

In 2023, the Republican Party of Texas censured him for his support of same-sex marriage at the federal government level as well as the bipartisan gun safety bill in response to the Uvalde shooting.

Gonzales won the support of top Republicans, including Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is a Republican who has a slim majority in the House. Speaker Mike Johnson was at a fundraising event for Gonzales who outraised Herrera.

Herrera, a gun maker who has over 3 million YouTube subscribers and posts videos on weapons and gun rights, is a manufacturer of guns.

Take a look at the other important primary runoffs that took place in Texas.

TEXAS HOUSE LEADERS PREVAIL — FOR NOW

Phelan, the former second-place finisher in March behind David Covey – a former local chairman, oil and gas consultant, and Trump supporter – rallied Tuesday to win by a narrow margin.

Phelan’s win at least temporarily halted a push by Paxton and other to force him from his leadership role within the dominant party in Texas. A shakeup could be coming to the Texas Capitol.

The brutal primary battle has raised questions about Phelan’s ability to remain as speaker.

Phelan, at his election-night party, declared victory over what he described as “a terrible fight, awful knockdown and drag-out”, and told his supporters that he would remain speaker.

Phelan stated, “I believe this runoff has done me a great favor.” It let my voters see my true record.

The race revealed the fractures in the GOP at large. Phelan has been the speaker of his chamber since 2021. He came under fire last year after it voted to impeach Paxton for bribery charges and corruption. Paxton was acquitted by the state Senate.

Phelan presided at votes which enacted some the most strict anti-abortion legislation in the country. He also expanded gun rights and supported Abbott’s anti-immigration platforms.

Covey & Paxton claimed that after Phelan declared his victory, he had influenced Democrats to vote in the Republican primaries and push him to the top. Texas uses an open system of primary elections, which means that voters are allowed to vote regardless of their party affiliation.

Covey stated that “Dade has destroyed his legacy irrevocably by winning this election.”

TRUMP TIES

Katrina Pierson defeated Justin Holland, the incumbent for the state House in Dallas suburbs.

Holland was one of the House Republicans who voted for Paxton’s impeachment. Holland also voted to raise the age to purchase assault rifles to 21 and against Abbott’s plans to spend money from public education on private schools. Abbott ran a campaign for Pierson.

CHALLENGING CUELLAR

Republicans chose Jay Furman as their nominee for the November election. Furman is a retired Navy veteran who will be running against Henry Cuellar. Cuellar was a long-time Democratic Congressman indicted along with his spouse this spring over federal charges of bribery and money laundering. Cuellar claims to be innocent. Three associates have admitted guilt in the same investigation.

Furman defeated businessman and rancher Lazaro Garcia in the South Texas District that Cuellar had held since 2005. Both campaigns called for tighter immigration and border security.

Cecilia Castellano, Rosie Cuellar’s sister, won the Democratic runoff to fill a South Texas State House seat. Henry Cuellar’s indictment was not announced until after the March primary.

The winner will face off against Republican Don McLaughlin who was the mayor of Uvalde at the time the shooting occurred.

GONE GRANGER

Craig Goldman, a real estate investor and former state House representative, was chosen by Republicans over John O’Shea of the construction business to replace Kay Granger. Granger is retiring after serving as the longest-serving Republican congresswoman in America. Goldman will be facing Democrat Trey Hunt, in the heavily Republican district anchored in Fort Worth.

Granger is an 81-year-old former Chairwoman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee. Last year, she announced that she would not run for re-election.