[1] Parker sought the position of Texas House Speaker with the retirement of Joe Straus but withdrew his candidacy in 2018 to support the consensus choice, representative Dennis Bonnen of Angleton in Brazoria County.
[1] Parker serves on several board of directors and advisory councils, including the University of Dallas,[2] Communities in Schools North Texas, the Children’s Advocacy Center for Denton County, and Kyle’s Place, an emerging shelter project for homeless teens.
[3] In 2006, Parker first ran for state office when his predecessor, Mary C. Denny, vacated the seat for House District 63.
He faced four opponents in the Republican primary election, including Lewisville ISD board president Anne Lakusta, who received the endorsement of the Dallas Morning News.
[8] In 2015, Parker's colleagues elected him the Chairman of the House Republican Caucus and he was chosen later that year as the best legislator by Texas Monthly magazine.
Upon entering the 85th Legislative Session, Parker was unanimously re-elected as the chairman of the House Republican Caucus,[10] which represents the Republican members of the Texas House by supplying its members with policy development and other crucial support services.