With the party’s direction hanging in the balance, Texas Republicans are gathering in San Antonio for a three-day convention where they’re making key decisions and engaging in fierce power struggles.
The backdrop is next week’s primary runoff elections, in which the party’s top elected leaders are vying with several incumbents in tightly contested races for the Texas House of Representatives.
One key item on the convention’s agenda will be selecting new leadership to help decide whether the party will focus on maintaining ideological purity or on defeating Democrats on the ballot and in policy debates.
Other questions concern closing the party’s primaries to non-Republican voters and blocking criticized officials from running as Republicans.
The convention kicks off on Thursday, and things are likely to get heated on Friday, when early voting for the runoff elections ends, as delegates elect a new chairman, adopt new rules and approve the party platform.
As delegates go about their convention business at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, infighting is a top concern.
“What you’ll see in the runoffs is exactly what you’ll see at the convention,” said Matthew Langston, a conservative political consultant who is observing the event. “There’s a critical division within the party and a lot of friction about the direction, the course and the path of the party. You’ll see that division on display live this weekend and then shortly thereafter at the ballot box.”
For the second straight time, Gov. Greg Abbott will address convention delegates remotely rather than in person. The governor is scheduled to spend the week campaigning for House candidates, including attending a rally in Rockwall on Friday for Katrina Pierson, who is challenging Rep. Justin Holland in a runoff election.
“We have 12 events this week,” said Dave Carney, Abbott’s chief political strategist. “The convention is [during] “Because it’s early voting, we’re hosting an event for Katrina on Friday morning, which will be broadcast live via satellite to the convention.”
Sen. John Cornyn, who was booed loudly at the 2022 convention, is not scheduled to address the delegates at the plenary session. A spokesman said Cornyn plans to attend the convention. An aide to Cornyn said Cornyn will attend a Senate district meeting on Friday. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Attorney General Ken Paxton, beloved by grassroots Republicans, are scheduled to address the delegates on Thursday.
The Texas Republican Convention brings together some of the state’s most conservative activists, who at times clash with their own elected leaders as they seek to move the party further to the right.
One potentially significant change involves how Republican candidates are selected.
One proposal under discussion would close down Texas’ Republican primary elections, in the process preventing independents and Democrats from voting.
A related proposal already approved by the Rules Committee would instruct county Republican leaders to reject ballot applications from candidates who have been censured by the state Republican Party. Censored candidates, including incumbents, would be barred from running as Republicans for two years.
Last year, the state party censured House Speaker Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) and Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-San Antonio).
The proposal requires approval by a majority of the convention’s delegates.
“We have a Trump-style establishment now that is really focused on a populist, nationalist right-wing shift, which is what the party has done for the last few elections,” said Jason Villalba, a former state representative, Dallas attorney and CEO of the Texas Hispanic Policy Foundation.
Many of the party’s platform proposals on election reform relate to former President Donald Trump’s frustration with his loss in the 2020 election.
“Since Trump became the party’s standard-bearer, the party has moved further to the right,” said Villalba, a former Republican and now an independent.
The Secretary of State’s Office is in charge of both party primaries, and some have said closing them would require congressional approval. Supporters of the proposal argue that congressional approval isn’t needed, pointing to U.S. Supreme Court rulings that allow political parties to run their own nominating processes.
Another proposal would require Texans to update their voter registration annually.
Convention debate over the party’s platform is always lively, and topics this year are expected to include election integrity, continued restrictions on abortion and border security.
Another proposal would require that “all frozen embryos” at IVF facilities be “held by the state until such stored embryos have been thawed and implanted.” A related proposal would classify IVF protocols that “intentionally, willfully, recklessly, or negligently cause the death of an embryo or other developing human being” as murder.
The platform, which has been routinely ignored by Republicans over the past few decades, serves as a guide for setting priorities for action by the GOP-controlled Congress.
Most of the Texas Republican’s legislative agenda has been implemented since Trump was elected president in 2016, including permit-free gun ownership, a ban on gender-affirming medical care for those under 18, a near-elimination of abortion and the construction of a border wall.
Delegates at the convention will also elect a new party chair to replace former state Rep. Matt Rinaldi, who is not seeking reelection as state party chairman.
The six candidates are Republican Party Vice Chair Dana Myers, former Collin County Republican Party Chairman Abraham George, Travis County Republican Party Chairman Matt Mackowiak, former Texas Freedom Caucus Executive Director Mike Garcia, grassroots activist Ben Armenta and San Antonio businessman Weston Martinez.
George, who lost the Texas House primary to incumbent Rep. Candy Noble (R-Lucas) in March, has been endorsed by Rinaldi and is expected to be introduced from the floor by Paxton, who has also endorsed George.
The Texas Tribune reported in March that police were called to George’s Collin County home after he was leaving with a loaded gun to confront a man he suspected of having an affair with his wife, according to an incident report. George was not arrested or charged.
George did not respond to calls or text messages. news George was in Washington last week to discuss his candidacy. In a statement to the Tribune, he said, “Like any family, we have had our misunderstandings and conflicts,” and that “my marriage is stronger than it’s ever been.”
“This desperate attack will change nothing,” he wrote.
Analysts say the leadership election reflects a power struggle within the state Republican Party.
Republican political consultant Brendan Steinhauser said the leadership race pits Republicans who want the party to adhere to strict rules, ideology and platform against others who see the party’s role as a unifying force, with the primary goal of defeating Democrats.
“That’s the crux of the debate,” he said. “It’s hard to predict what’s going to happen.”
Langston agreed.
“The speaker race is exactly what’s happening in the Republican Party right now,” he said. “There’s a huge diversity of opinions about the direction the Republican Party wants to go, and this fight is going to continue to be contentious. I don’t think we’ve seen anything like this in a long time.”
