Texas GOP Convention

Allen West Launches Bid For Texas GOP Chair

By Cassandra Pollock, Texas Tribune • Aug 16, 2019

Allen West, a former congressman from Florida, announced Thursday he is running for Texas GOP chair, challenging current party leader James Dickey for the position.

Texas GOP Controls The State, But Continues Fight Over Controlling The Future

By Ben Philpott / KUT News • Jun 15, 2018

Political party conventions are always about the future – the next election, to be specific, but also the five- and 10-year plan for growth.

The last couple of decades for Texas Republicans have been pretty rock solid. In 2014, Gov. Greg Abbott won the election by 20 points. And in the 2018 primaries, Republicans set records for voter turnout in an off-year election.

Republican Ideals Proudly On Display During Party Platform Debate

By Ben Philpott / KUT News • Jun 15, 2018

Texas' top Republican lawmakers spent the morning Friday revving up the crowd at their convention in San Antonio. Now the heavy lifting of this biennial event begins.

The delegates vote on a party chairman and then begin debate on the state party platform. The (currently) 38-page document lists the party's priorities, plans and ideals.

3 Things To Watch At The Texas Republican Convention

By Ben Philpott / KUT News • Jun 14, 2018

Thousands of Republicans are in San Antonio this week for the state convention. They'll bring plenty of red, white and blue clothing – along with elephant hats. But in the midst of the spectacle, there's work getting done by party officials and delegates. Here's a little checklist of what to watch for over the next three days.

Four Things To Watch At Texas Republican And Democratic Party Conventions

By Alex Samuels / The Texas Tribune & Cassandra Pollock, Texas Tribune • Jun 11, 2018

Marjorie Kamys Cotera / Bob Daemmrich / The Texas Tribune

Several thousand Texans will descend on San Antonio and Fort Worth for the biennial Republican and Democratic conventions to hear from the state’s most prominent politicians, adopt new platforms and elect party leaders.

Dan Patrick Willing To Lose Billions Over Bathrooms

By Christopher Connelly • May 13, 2016

The school bathroom wars blew up Friday at the Texas Republican convention in Dallas.

What To Watch As The Texas GOP Gathers In Dallas

By Patrick Svitek Texas Tribune • May 12, 2016

For many Texas Republicans, their party's state convention starting Thursday in Dallas won't be what they had hoped for: a home-state pit stop in Ted Cruz's battle to the end against Donald Trump for the GOP presidential nomination.

Texas GOP Convention Gets Underway In Dallas

By Christopher Connelly • May 11, 2016

The Texas Republican Convention gets into full swing Thursday at the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center in Dallas. The event is one of the largest political gatherings in the country.

At State Convention, Texas Republicans Call For Conversion Therapy For Gays

By Shelley Kofler • Jun 9, 2014

The Texas Republican Party over the weekend endorsed counseling aimed at making gay people straight.

George Strait Sets Attendance Record: 104,000 See His Final Concert In Arlington

By Eric Aasen • Jun 9, 2014

Arlington Police Department / Twitter/@ArlingtonPD

Five stories that have North Texas talking: A record crowd for the “King of Country;” The Texas Republican Party votes to approve “reparative therapy” for gays; a Texas-themed political drama is in the works; and more:

Hispanic Voters Also Oppose Illegal Immigration, Dan Patrick Tells GOP Delegates

By Shelley Kofler • Jun 8, 2014

Texas Republicans have abandoned a guest-worker program and taken a harder position on illegal immigration in their party platform.

The platform adopted Saturday also borrows from some positions State Sen. Dan Patrick, the Republican lieutenant governor nominee, has listed on his website.

Texas Republicans Endorse 'Reparative Therapy' For Gays

By Associated Press • Jun 8, 2014

The Texas Republican Party now endorses so-called "reparative therapy" for gays under a new platform given final approval at its annual convention Saturday in Fort Worth.

Texas Republicans Support Counseling To Convert Gays To Heterosexuality

By Shelley Kofler • Jun 8, 2014

In their new state platform, Texas Republicans suggest reparative therapy" for patrients seeking healing and wholeness from their homosexuality." The platform also says "homosexuality is a chosen behavior," something most gays and lesbians reject. Gay Republicans say they had convinced many party delegates to back their efforts to remove offensive comments from the platform, but convention rules prevented the delegates from addessing the audience.

Texas Republicans Toughen Stance On Undocumented Immigrants

By Shelley Kofler • Jun 8, 2014

Texas Republicans have taken a tougher stand against undocumented immigrants already living in the state by dropping support for a guest-worker program from their party platform.

Texas Republicans Pick Cruz Over Perry For President In Straw Poll

By Shelley Kofler • Jun 7, 2014

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz clobbered 13 other potential presidential candidates in a straw poll decided by delegates at the Texas Republican Convention in Fort Worth. Cruz captured 43 percent of the vote.

Texas GOP Expects Hot Debate Before Voting On Party Platform Saturday

By Shelley Kofler • Jun 6, 2014

In meeting rooms and hallways at the Texas Republican Party Convention, delegates Friday hotly argued over whether a guest worker program should remain in their party platform. Gay Republicans fought to eliminate a plank that suggested reparative therapy be available for those who want to escape their gay "lifestyle."