State Rep. James Frank, a Wichita Falls Republican who is one of the Texas House’s leading voices on health and foster care, announced Tuesday he is running for speaker, making him the fourth member to challenge the lower chamber’s current leader, Beaumont Republican Dade Phelan.

Rick Perry, who served 14 years as Texas governor, will be an unpaid adviser to the embattled Republican leader of the Texas House.

Republicans will meet privately after the November election to choose their speaker candidate for the next legislative session.

"Governor Perry’s legacy of service to Texas is unparalleled, and I am honored to have him join our team as we prepare for the upcoming legislative session."

Reps. Tom Oliverson and Shelby Slawson, both members of House Republican leadership, became the first two candidates to challenge Phelan’s speakership.

Former Gov. Rick Perry will serve as a senior adviser to Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, whose continued leadership of the House is being challenged by

Perry served as governor of Texas for 14 years and later briefly served as the Secretary of Energy under former President Donald Trump.