CEC Votes to Deny Support to Censured Representatives Bell and Metcalf
December 5, 2025 | Media Inquiries: press@mctxgop.org
In March 2025, Texas House Representatives Cecil Bell and Will Metcalf were censured by the Montgomery County Republican Party for abandoning the House Republican Caucus and colluding with Democrats to elect Dustin Burrows as Speaker instead of supporting the caucus nominee, David Cook.
Prior to the vote for Speaker, both Metcalf and Bell had been warned by the County Executive Committee (CEC) that if they joined the Democrats rather than supporting the Republican Caucus nominee, they would face censure by the local party. Despite these warnings, and despite their pledge to support the caucus nominee, they voted with the Democrats anyway.
As a consequence, the Montgomery County Republican Party voted on December 2, 2025, that neither Bell nor Metcalf would be permitted to place campaign materials at party headquarters and that they would receive no support from the local party.
In an interview with a local publication, Metcalf responded to the sanctions by calling them “election interference” and adding, “I will not be intimidated by anyone who thinks a handful of agitators should outweigh the will of the voters.” He further stated, “It is clear the Montgomery County Republican Party has been weaponized against our Republican voters.”
The local party issued these sanctions because the actions of Bell and Metcalf undermined the Republican majority that voters had fought to achieve in the Texas House and Senate, preventing Republican legislative priorities from being fully realized.
As a result of the deal in which just 26 Republicans joined the entire Democratic delegation to elect Burrows as Speaker, the following occurred…
Republicans provided:
Burrows and his allies received the Speaker’s gavel, granting them the authority to appoint all committees in the Texas House and exercise near-dictatorial power for the 89th Legislative Session.
Burrows was able to use this power to pressure Republican House members to fall in line or face punishment.
Burrows traded away Republican votes across Texas in exchange for endorsements from other elected officials, including the President.
Burrows directed that his allies’ names be attached to key legislation so they could claim authorship during their campaigns.
Burrows was able to punish and demoralize conservative legislators who honored their constituents and voted for the Republican caucus nominee David Cook.
Democrats received:
$3.6 million in taxpayer funds to hire additional staff.
Permission for an Obama-era White House attorney, Hugh Brady, to write the Texas House Rules.
Control of both parliamentarian positions.
Exclusive eligibility for vice-chair positions, with expanded authority allowing them to block Republican legislation.
Subcommittee chairmanships.
The position of Speaker Pro Tem for one of the most left-leaning Democrats, Joe Moody, giving him authority to preside over the House.
Preservation of their ability to break quorum without consequence, enabling them to block Republican priorities.
Following the censure and sanctions, Metcalf’s supporters launched a misinformation campaign attempting to portray the party’s actions as “taking away the voters’ voice.” Yet ironically, that is precisely what Metcalf and Bell did when they ignored their constituents, sided with Democrats, and then traded away their constituents’ vote on the School Choice bill in exchange for personal endorsements from President Trump and Governor Abbott.
The Bottom Line
Actions have consequences. The Republican Party’s role is not simply to educate voters and get them to the polls. It is also to be a voice for Republicans and hold elected officials accountable when they deny the will of the people who elected them and ignore Republican priorities. That is what the elected body of the CEC voted to do after the actions of these censured representatives.