Republican Party of Texas

A majority of the 600 delegates to the 1867 Republican convention in Texas were Black, but white delegates ultimately controlled the party’s most important positions.{{sfn|Abbott|1986|pp=131–132}}

The party expanded rapidly during the Reconstruction era, after constitutional amendments abolished slavery and granted suffrage to Black men. Many African Americans, including educated men of mixed race who had been free before the American Civil War, joined the party that had fought for abolition. Republican leadership advocated for public education, labor rights, and opportunities for freedmen. Notable early Black leaders in the Texas GOP included William Madison McDonald of Fort Worth, Norris Wright Cuney of Galveston, and Henry Clay Ferguson.

In 1870, Edmund J. Davis was elected Governor of Texas as a Republican, but he lost reelection in 1874. Although Republicans garnered nearly one-third of the statewide vote in 1876 and gained a few legislative seats, including several held by African Americans, these advances were soon reversed. Democrats regained control and instituted measures like poll taxes and white primaries that disenfranchised Black voters and marginalized the Republican Party for decades.

After the end of Reconstruction, internal divisions developed within the Texas GOP. By the early 20th century, the "Lily White" faction had pushed most African Americans out of party leadership. Laws requiring poll taxes further reduced Black voter participation—from more than 100,000 in the 1890s to just 5,000 by 1906.{{harvnb|Abbott|1986}} Mexican Americans and poor whites were also affected by these policies.

Despite statewide setbacks, some German American communities in the Texas Hill Country—including Gillespie, Guadalupe, and Kendall counties—remained Republican strongholds due to their Unionist and anti-slavery leanings.

From 1901 to 1954, Harry M. Wurzbach, a German Texan from the Hill Country, was the only Republican to serve in Congress from Texas. His repeated elections were notable in an otherwise one-party Democratic state.Wurzbach's election and re-election as a Republican were unique for the era. Wurzbach Parkway in San Antonio is named in his honor.

The party held its first statewide primary in 1926, drawing only 15,239 voters. By contrast, the Democratic primary that year drew more than 800,000 voters. Only two more Republican primaries occurred over the next three decades.{{harvnb|Moreland|Steed|Baker|1991}}

In 1961, James A. Leonard became the first executive director of the Texas Republican Party. He was considered the "architect" of John Tower's successful campaign for the U.S. Senate, which filled the seat vacated by Lyndon B. Johnson. Tower's 1961 win was the first major Republican victory in Texas since Reconstruction.{{sfn|Davidson|Pomeroy|2011|p=231}}

In 1966, two Texas Republicans were elected to the U.S. House: George H. W. Bush and James M. Collins. That year also saw Republicans elected to both the Texas House and Senate. By 1972, Republicans had expanded their legislative representation to 17 members in the House and 3 in the Senate.{{sfn|Davidson|Pomeroy|2011|p=234}}

A turning point came in the 1976 presidential primary, when Ronald Reagan defeated sitting President Gerald Ford in Texas by a two-to-one margin. According to James Baker, Reagan’s campaign "changed the whole shape and nature of the state."{{sfn|Baker|1984}} Reagan energized suburban conservatives, business owners, and evangelical Christians, reshaping the party’s ideological base.

In 1978, Bill Clements narrowly won the governorship, becoming the first Republican to hold that office in Texas since Reconstruction. Reagan’s 1984 reelection campaign—coordinated with then-Vice President George H. W. Bush and Senate candidate Phil Gramm—further boosted the GOP’s infrastructure and outreach in Texas.{{sfn|Davidson|Pomeroy|2011|pp=235–237}}

Since 1994, Republicans have held every statewide elected office in Texas. The party’s dominance extends to both chambers of the legislature, as well as the judiciary and executive offices. The last time a Democratic presidential candidate carried Texas was Jimmy Carter in 1976.

File:George H. W. Bush, President of the United States, 1989 official portrait.jpg

File:George-W-Bush.jpeg

Two U.S. presidents, George H. W. Bush (41st) and his son George W. Bush (43rd), were residents of Texas.

In 2020, the Texas GOP adopted the slogan "We are the storm," a phrase also popular among followers of the QAnon conspiracy theory. Then-chair Allen West attributed the slogan to a poem of uncertain origin.{{cite news |last=McCullough |first=Jolie |title=Texas GOP’s new slogan mirrors QAnon mantra |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2020/12/08/texas-republican-party-qanon/ |work=Texas Tribune |date=December 8, 2020}}

In 2022, the party’s platform opposed LGBT rights, labeled homosexuality as "an abnormal lifestyle choice," and rejected efforts to validate transgender identities.{{cite news |title=Texas GOP adopts anti-LGBTQ platform |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/3529268-texas-gop-party-adopts-anti-lgbtq-platform-refers-to-being-gay-as-abnormal/ |work=The Hill |date=June 19, 2022}} That year, Rep. Tony Gonzales was the only Texas Republican to vote in favor of codifying same-sex marriage rights.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}

The party continues to support strict abortion bans, rejecting exceptions for rape, incest, or life-threatening conditions.{{cite web |title=Texas GOP doubles down on no exceptions for abortion ban |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/23/texas-republican-party-abortion-ban/ |date=June 23, 2023|website=Texas Tribune}}{{dead link|date=May 2025}}

In 2024, the Texas GOP voted to restrict primary election access for censured candidates, although state law requires open primaries.{{cite web |title=Texas Election Code § 172.001 |url=https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/EL/htm/EL.172.htm#172.001}}

Like many U.S. political parties, the Republican Party of Texas is governed by a biennial state convention that serves as the ultimate authority of the party.{{cite web |title=RPT General Rules (as amended May 24, 2024) |url=https://texasgop.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/RPT-General-Rules-As-Amended-2024-05-24.pdf |website=Republican Party of Texas |access-date=July 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240619023102/https://texasgop.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/RPT-General-Rules-As-Amended-2024-05-24.pdf |archive-date=June 19, 2024}}

The state convention establishes party rules, adopts the party platform, and elects statewide party officers.{{cite web |title=Abraham George Elected Next Texas GOP Chair Ahead of 2024 General, Closed Primary Rule Established |url=https://thetexan.news/elections/2024/abraham-george-elected-next-texas-gop-chair-ahead-of-2024-general-closed-primary-rule-established/article_2c4a2d72-1a20-11ef-b7b2-8b3f0057ad26.html |work=The Texan |date=May 24, 2024}} In presidential election years, the convention also selects delegates to the Republican National Convention.

Conventions occur at the precinct, county or senatorial district, and state levels. Each level elects delegates to the next.

Held immediately after the Republican primary election, precinct conventions are open to anyone who voted in the Republican primary or signs an oath of affiliation.{{cite web |title=Here's how Texans can get involved in their party conventions |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2018/02/07/heres-how-texans-can-get-involved-their-party-conventions/ |work=The Texas Tribune |date=February 7, 2021 |access-date=July 11, 2024}} Delegates adopt resolutions for the party platform and elect delegates to the county or senatorial district conventions.

Each county holds either a countywide convention or, if the county overlaps with multiple state senate districts, separate senatorial district conventions.{{cite web |title=Lubbock Co. Republican Party Precinct and County Conventions Notice |url=https://lubbockgop.wordpress.com/2024/03/05/lubbock-co-republican-party-precinct-and-county-conventions-notice/ |date=March 5, 2024 |access-date=July 11, 2024}} In 2024, Harris County held nine separate conventions for its nine senatorial districts.{{cite web |title=2024 Senate District Convention Locations |url=https://www.harriscountygop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2024-SENATE-DISTRICT-Convention-Locations-1.pdf |access-date=July 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240303184702/https://www.harriscountygop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2024-SENATE-DISTRICT-Convention-Locations-1.pdf |archive-date=March 3, 2024|publisher=Harris County Republican Party }}

These conventions elect delegates to the state convention and consider platform and rules resolutions.

The biennial state convention is the final authority for the party. It adopts the platform and rules, elects statewide party officials, and selects members of the State Republican Executive Committee. In presidential years, it also selects delegates to the Republican National Convention.

No level of the Texas Republican Party conducts nominating conventions for candidates. All party nominations for public office are made through primary elections in accordance with Texas law.{{cite web |title=Texas Election Code § 172.001 |url=https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/EL/htm/EL.172.htm#172.001}}

In June 2022, the Republican Party of Texas held its biennial state convention in Houston, drawing over 5,000 delegates and alternates. The convention generated national attention for adopting a number of controversial resolutions and platform changes.

The party barred the Log Cabin Republicans, a group that advocates for LGBT rights within the GOP, from having a booth at the event. Delegates approved a platform change stating that homosexuality is "an abnormal lifestyle choice" and opposed any recognition of transgender identity.{{cite news |last=Dress |first=Brad |title=Texas GOP adopts anti-LGBTQ platform, refers to being gay as 'abnormal' |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/3529268-texas-gop-party-adopts-anti-lgbtq-platform-refers-to-being-gay-as-abnormal/ |work=The Hill |date=June 19, 2022}}

The convention also included multiple screenings of 2000 Mules, a film by Dinesh D'Souza which falsely alleged widespread election fraud in the 2020 U.S. presidential election. Delegates approved a resolution declaring that President Joe Biden "was not legitimately elected".{{cite news |last=Neugeboren |first=Eric |title=Fed up and fired up: Texas Republicans meet in a climate of mistrust, conspiracy and victimhood |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2022/06/18/texas-state-republican-convention/ |work=The Texas Tribune |date=June 18, 2022}}

Additional planks in the adopted platform included:

• A call to repeal the Voting Rights Act of 1965;
• A proposal for a state-level Electoral College, in which Texas Senate districts would elect electors to vote for statewide officials;
• A call for public schools to stop teaching "sexual matters" including gender identity and sex education, while promoting the "dignity of the preborn human";
• Support for the right of Texas to secede from the United States, with a proposal for a future referendum on the matter.{{cite news |last=Brower |first=Mac |title=Why Texas Republicans Want a State Electoral College |url=https://www.democracydocket.com/analysis/why-texas-republicans-want-a-state-electoral-college/ |date=August 3, 2022}}

The convention also censured longtime U.S. Senator John Cornyn for participating in bipartisan talks on gun legislation in the wake of recent mass shootings.{{cite news |title=Texas Republican Convention calls Biden win illegitimate and rebukes Cornyn over gun talks |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2022/06/18/republican-party-texas-convention-cornyn/ |work=The Texas Tribune |date=June 18, 2022}}

The adopted platform was praised by former President Donald Trump, who said it reflected "courage" and the will of Republican voters.{{cite news |last=Hubbard |first=Kaia |title=Trump Praises 'Courage' of Texas GOP for Rejecting Biden's Win in Party Platform |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2022-06-21/trump-praises-courage-of-texas-gop-for-rejecting-bidens-win-in-party-platform |work=U.S. News & World Report |date=June 21, 2022}}

Media coverage of the platform characterized it as far-right and exclusionary.{{cite news |last=Helderman |first=Rosalind S. |title=At Texas GOP convention, loyalists embrace far-right, anti-gay rhetoric |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/06/19/texas-gop-crenshaw-cornyn-gay-rights/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=June 19, 2022}} The New York Times described it as "far-right" and noted its embrace of election denialism.{{cite news |last=Paybarah |first=Azi |author2=Montgomery, David |title=Texas Republicans Approve Far-Right Platform Declaring Biden's Election Illegitimate |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/19/us/politics/texas-republicans-approve-far-right-platform-declaring-bidens-election-illegitimate.html |work=The New York Times |date=June 19, 2022}}

The Houston Chronicle emphasized that the platform serves as a "mission statement" and is not legally binding.{{cite news |title=GOP wants Texans to vote on secession from U.S. — plus 6 other takeaways from the party's convention |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/texas-republican-convention-highlights-measures-17253384.php |newspaper=Houston Chronicle |date=June 20, 2022}}

Critics within the GOP, including Donald Trump Jr., expressed concern over excluding the Log Cabin Republicans, framing it as contradictory to inclusive conservative values.{{cite news |title=Texas GOP Calls Being Gay 'Abnormal,' Bans Gay Conservative Group From Convention |last=Blest |first=Paul |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/texas-log-cabin-republicans-booth-banned/ |work=Vice News |date=June 21, 2022}}

File:Matt Rinaldi.png

Texas Republicans currently control all statewide elected offices, a majority in both chambers of the Texas Legislature, both U.S. Senate seats, and a majority of U.S. House seats from Texas.

Republicans have held both Texas seats in the U.S. Senate since 1993:

File:John Cornyn official senate portrait.jpg|Senior U.S. Senator John Cornyn

File:Ted Cruz official 116th portrait (cropped).jpg|Junior U.S. Senator Ted Cruz

Of the 38 Texas seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, 25 are currently held by Republicans:

• TX-01: Nathaniel Moran
• TX-02: Dan Crenshaw
• TX-03: Keith Self
• TX-04: Pat Fallon
• TX-05: Lance Gooden
• TX-06: Jake Ellzey
• TX-08: Morgan Luttrell
• TX-10: Michael McCaul
• TX-11: August Pfluger
• TX-12: Craig Goldman
• TX-13: Ronny Jackson
• TX-14: Randy Weber
• TX-15: Monica De La Cruz
• TX-17: Pete Sessions
• TX-19: Jodey Arrington
• TX-21: Chip Roy
• TX-22: Troy Nehls
• TX-23: Tony Gonzales
• TX-24: Beth Van Duyne
• TX-25: Roger Williams
• TX-26: Brandon Gill
• TX-27: Michael Cloud
• TX-31: John Carter
• TX-36: Brian Babin
• TX-38: Wesley Hunt

Republicans currently hold all nine statewide elected offices in Texas:

File:Greg Abbott 2015.jpg|Governor: Greg Abbott

File:Dan Patrick Texas (alt crop).jpg|Lieutenant Governor: Dan Patrick

File:Ken Paxton.jpg|Attorney General: Ken Paxton

File:Hegar, Glenn - 09 5x7.jpg|Comptroller of Public Accounts: Glenn Hegar

File:Sen. Dawn Buckingham, M.D (cropped).jpg|Land Commissioner: Dawn Buckingham

File:Sid Miller USDA event (cropped).jpg|Agriculture Commissioner: Sid Miller

File:Wayne Christian.jpg|Railroad Commissioner: Wayne Christian

File:Christi Craddick (cropped).jpg|Railroad Commissioner: Christi Craddick

File:Dan Patrick Texas (alt crop).jpg|Lieutenant Governor: Dan Patrick

|Speaker of the House: Dade Phelan

Biannually, in even-numbered years, delegates at the Texas GOP State Convention elect one man and one woman from each of the 31 State Senate districts to serve a two-year term on the State Republican Executive Committee (SREC). Alongside the elected State Chair and Vice Chair, the SREC manages the party's affairs between conventions.

{{Cite news|url=https://www.texasgop.org/state-republican-executive-committee|title=State Republican Executive Committee – Republican Party of Texas|publisher=Republican Party of Texas|access-date=2024-07-11|language=en-US}}

• John L. Haynes (1867–?)
• Edmund J. Davis (1875–1883)
• Norris Wright Cuney (1886–1896)
• William Madison McDonald (1897–1898)
• Henry Clay Ferguson (1898–1900)
• Cecil A. Lyon (1900–1916)
• Rentfro Creager (1920–1950)
• Orville Bullington (1951–1952)
• Carlos Watson (1952)
• Thad Hutcheson (1957–1960)
• Tad Smith (1961–1962)

• Peter O'Donnell (1962–1969)
• William Steger (1969–1971)
• (Missing records) (1971–1976)
• Ray Hutchison (1976–1977)
• Ray Barnhart (1977–1979)
• Chet Upham (1979–1983)
• George Strake Jr. (1983–1988)
• Fred Meyer (1988–1994)
• Tom Pauken (1994–1997)
• Susan Weddington (1997–2003)
• Tina Benkiser (2003–2009)
• Cathie Adams (2009–2010)
• Steve Munisteri (2010–2015)
• Tom Mechler (2015–2017)
• James Dickey (2017–2020)
• Allen West (2020–2021)
• Matt Rinaldi (2021–2024)
• Abraham George (2024–present)

The party has a number of partner and auxiliary organizations,{{Cite web |title=Partnerships & Auxiliaries |url=https://texasgop.org/partnerships-auxiliaries/ |access-date=2024-06-02 |website=Republican Party of Texas |language=en-US}} including:

• the Texas Federation of College Republicans,{{cite web|url=http://www.txcollegerepublicans.com/|title=Texas College Republicans – The Official Home of the Texas College Republicans|publisher=txcollegerepublicans.com|access-date=April 26, 2011}}
• the High School Republicans of Texas,
• the Texas Federation of Republican Women (TFRW),{{cite web|url=http://www.tfrw.org/|title=TFRW Home Page|publisher=tfrw.org|access-date=April 26, 2011}}
• the Texas Republican County Chairmen's Association,{{cite web|url=http://www.trcca.org/|title=Texas Republican County Chairmans Association|publisher=trcca.org|access-date=April 26, 2011|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100818030247/http://www.trcca.org/ |archive-date = August 18, 2010|url-status=dead}}
• the Texas Republican Assembly,{{cite web|url=http://www.texasra.org/chapters|title=Texas Republican Assembly – The Republican Wing of the Republican Party|publisher=texasra.org|access-date=April 26, 2011}}
• 150 Black Men of Texas,
• the Juan Seguin Society,{{Cite web |title=JUAN SEGUIN SOCIETY |url=https://juanseguinsociety.org/ |access-date=2024-06-02 |language=en-US}}
• the Young Republicans of Texas,{{Cite web |title=Young Republicans of Texas |url=https://yrtx.gop/ |access-date=2024-06-02 |language=en-US}}
• the Texas Asian Republican Assembly,{{Cite web |title=Texas Asian Republican Assembly |url=http://taragop.com/ |access-date=2024-06-02 |language=en-CA}}
• the MLK Association,
• the National Federation of Pachyderms – Texas Chapter, and
• the Republican Liberty Caucus of Texas.

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{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book |last=Abbott |first=Richard |title=The Republican Party and the South, 1855–1877: The First Southern Strategy |publisher=University of North Carolina Press |date=1986 |url=https://archive.org/details/republicanparty00abbo |isbn=0807816809}}
• {{cite book |editor-last1=Moreland |editor-first1=Laurence |editor-last2=Steed |editor-first2=Robert |editor-last3=Baker |editor-first3=Tod |title=The 1988 Presidential Election in the South: Continuity Amidst Change in Southern Party Politics |publisher=Praeger Publishers |date=1991 |url=https://archive.org/details/1988presidential0000unse |isbn=0275931455}}

• [https://www.texasgop.org/ Republican Party of Texas official website]
• [http://www.texashousecaucus.com/ Texas House Republican Caucus]
• [http://tfrw.org/ Texas Federation of Republican Women]
• [http://texasyoungrepublicans.com/ Texas Young Republican Federation]
• [https://3npv5lo075n4f1mrxbxvz8hv-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/PERM-PLATFORM-as-Amended-by-Gen-Body-5.13.16.pdf 2016 Texas Republican Party Platform (PDF)]

{{Republican Party (United States)}}

{{TexasPoliticalParties}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Republican Party Of Texas}}

Category:Political parties in Texas

Texas

Category:Organizations that oppose LGBTQ rights in the United States

Category:Paleoconservative parties in the United States

Category:Right-wing populism in the United States

Category:Secessionist organizations in the United States

Category:Nationalist parties in the United States