Republican Party of Texas Delegates Vote on Controversial Platform at Biennial Convention

Republican Party of Texas Delegates Vote on Controversial Platform at Biennial Convention

In a contentious and polarizing move, Republican Party of Texas delegates gathered on Saturday to vote on a platform that included several controversial proposals. Among the most notable were calls for new laws mandating the teaching of the Bible in public schools and a constitutional amendment requiring statewide elected leaders to win the popular vote in a majority of Texas counties.

The 50-page platform also included declarations that abortion is homicide, gender-transition treatment for children is child abuse, and demands for the disclosure of all pertinent information and knowledge of UFOs by the U.S. government. Additionally, the platform called for the reversal of recent military base name changes and support for declaring gold and silver as legal tender.

The platform, which is set to be finalized on Wednesday, has traditionally been viewed as a compromise document representing the interests of various factions within the party. However, in recent years, it has been used as a basis for censuring Republican officeholders deemed insufficiently conservative by the party’s far right.

One of the most consequential proposals in the platform calls for a constitutional amendment requiring candidates for statewide office to carry a majority of Texas’ 254 counties to win an election, similar to the U.S. electoral college. This move could effectively end Democrats’ chances of winning statewide office, as Republicans typically win in the state’s rural counties.

Critics have raised concerns about the constitutionality of such a proposal, as it could potentially limit the voting power of racial minorities who are concentrated in a smaller number of counties. The platform also reiterated calls for the repeal of the Voting Rights Act.

The platform also includes provisions advocating for more Christianity in public life, such as requiring instruction on the Bible, servant leadership, and Christian self-governance in schools. This aligns with the party’s increasing embrace of Christian nationalism, which argues that the United States’ founding was God-ordained and its laws should reflect conservative, Christian views.

The platform’s adoption comes as the Texas GOP continues to distance itself from moderate Republicans and align with far-right, fundamentalist Christian figures. The party’s new chair, Abraham George, has signaled a commitment to fighting against Democrats, radicals, and “RINO” Republicans who deviate from the party’s core values.

Former gubernatorial candidate and state Sen. Don Huffines, speaking at the convention, highlighted the party’s struggle to translate its platform into law despite its long-standing control of the Legislature and governor’s mansion.

The controversial platform is expected to further deepen the divide within the Republican Party of Texas and could have far-reaching implications for the state’s political landscape.