David Philip Simpson (born June 27, 1961)[1] is a former Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives for District 7, based in Gregg and Upshur counties.

In December 2012, Simpson announced his candidacy for Texas House Speaker in a conservative bid to oust the moderate Republican Joe Straus of San Antonio from the top position in the leadership of the chamber.

[6] Hughes immediately endorsed Simpson "wholeheartedly" over Straus, and called him an "eminently fair, highly principled, and hardworking legislator".

Eliminated in the March 1 primary was the two-star United States Army General James K. "Red" Brown of Lindale, and businessman and lawyer Mike Lee.

[19] In the contest against Simpson, Hughes carried the backing of Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, the presiding officer of the state Senate.

[20] Simpson was succeeded in the House by Jay Dean, a former mayor of Longview who won the Republican nomination against David Watts and ran without opposition in the November 8 general election.