The U.S. House of Representatives is experiencing a new era of bipartisan cooperation, with recent rare coalitions forming between Democrats and Republicans. This cooperation led to the approval of foreign aid to Ukraine and the defeat of a motion to oust Speaker Mike Johnson. Democrats have previously enjoyed voting against Republican House leadership, but recent events suggest a shift in their approach, although it is unlikely to align with a conservative agenda. House Republicans may benefit from studying the lessons of the bipartisan Texas House of Representatives, where progress on major Republican priorities has been limited despite Republican dominance since 2003. Issues such as state spending, school choice, tax cuts, border security, election fraud, and foreign ownership of agricultural land have faced challenges in the Texas legislature. The frustrations faced by conservatives in the Texas House serve as a cautionary tale for U.S. House Republicans, as bipartisan alliances can sway legislative priorities to the left. The potential electoral consequences of such shifts in the U.S. House reflect the recent experiences in the Texas House, where conservative voter frustration led to primary losses for incumbents. House Republicans must heed these lessons and reconsider their embrace of bipartisanship.
