When the Republican Party of Texas held its convention in Houston four years ago, Gov. Greg Abbott did not deliver a speech. Instead, he held his own gathering nearby.
In 2024, he appeared remotely by video instead of speaking before thousands of the most hard-line Texas Republican activists.
But after years of keeping the gathering at arms length, Mr. Abbott is set to offer his full embrace on Friday, delivering a keynote speech for the first time since 2018 and, in the process, positioning the party’s hard right at the center of Texas politics.
Mr. Abbott’s speech, set for 1:30 p.m. local time, follows decisive primary election victories by a slate of hard line candidates, some of whom the governor opposed. They include some who have pledged to rid the state of Muslims, further restrict voting access and end any remaining semblance of bipartisan comity in the state’s politics.
At the top of the ticket is Ken Paxton, the state attorney general who defeated the state’s sitting Republican senator, John Cornyn, using an unapologetic, anti-incumbent MAGA message.
Despite years of not appearing in person at the full convention, Mr. Abbott is no moderate. During his decade as governor, he’s helped set the conservative policy agenda, most recently as the lead supporter of the state’s new $1 billion school voucher program.
Having cruised to victory in his own primary, Mr. Abbott will appear on stage the same day as Mr. Paxton and the other candidates in what could be considered tacit approval from the governor for their messages and the direction they are taking the party.
Eduardo Leal, Mr. Abbott’s press secretary, said in a statement that the governor wants to unite Republicans around “a common mission: protecting the Texas values that make our state the conservative epicenter of America.”
Once considered a fringe gathering of dissident activists, the state party’s three-day convention is now positioned to more firmly define the future of the most influential red state in the country — after years of clamoring for a seat at the table.
“They’re setting the table now,” said Jim Henson, the director of the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas at Austin. “They have taken over the party with the supportive intervention of Donald Trump at the national level.”
Beyond the campaign, the convention will also decide on a platform and a list of priorities for the next legislative session. Over the years, activists have included items that, at times, have struggled to gain traction even in the Republican-dominated legislature. This year’s platform and priorities may fare better. The speaker of the Texas House, Dustin Burrows, is set to address the convention — a rarity for someone in his position and a sign legislative leaders are listening closely to the party’s wants.
Watching from afar, Democrats in Texas hope the opposition’s further shift rightward gives them an opening for the first time in decades. James Talarico, a state representative running against Mr. Paxton, has been campaigning on a message of compassionate Christianity aimed at moderate voters who are tired of the sort of aggressively partisan politics celebrated at the Republican Party convention.
Heading into the gathering in downtown Houston, Republicans are looking to put aside their divisions and unify against what many see as newly energized Democrats.
“The Democrats are playing for keeps, and you know, they do have some opportunities,” Tom Oliverson, the chairman of the Texas House Republican Caucus, said in an interview. “So, you better get out there and work your tail off and fight like you’ve never fought before.”
Earlier this month, Mr. Burrows, the State House speaker, held a summit in Austin to craft a unified Republican election strategy that included 200 legislators, campaign staff and political consultants, according to Mr. Oliverson.
Now, the task is to carry it out, and the first test is the convention.
“Everyone needs to stop goofing around and get real serious about this,” Mr. Oliverson said.
Past conventions have been marked by intense infighting over tactics and leadership. Politicians on the outs with the activist base have been booed, including Mr. Cornyn, whose audible rejection by delegates at the 2022 convention helped Mr. Paxton decide to challenge him. Such scenes have kept some top officials from attending.
This year could also have its dust-ups. The party’s current chairman, Abraham George, was facing a challenge to his leadership, and there would likely be disagreements over how far right to take the party’s platform.
But James Dickey, a former party chairman, said this year’s mood felt different. Mr. Abbott’s close involvement lent relevance to the convention and the party, he said, as did the participation of Mr. Burrows.
Matt Rinaldi, another former party chairman, said conservatives in the state were more aligned on policy and tactics now than ever. Even some of the slogans at this year’s gathering — like “Unity Drives Victory” — underscored the theme.
“This is exactly where we wanted to be,” Mr. Rinaldi said. “This is the moment where everyone is reunified.”
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