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.<\/p>\n
In 2024, he appeared remotely by video instead of speaking before thousands of the most hard-line Texas Republican activists.<\/p>\n
But after years of keeping the gathering at arms length, Mr. Abbott offered his full embrace on Friday, delivering a keynote speech for the first time since 2018 and, in the process, positioning the party\u2019s hard right at the center of Texas politics.<\/p>\n
The delegates greeted him with a standing ovation.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe people essential to ensuring that Bernie Sanders socialism never hijacks Texas are the patriots I\u2019m looking at right now,\u201d Mr. Abbott told the assembled delegates, referring to the Vermont senator. \u201cWhen we Republicans unite, we are unbeatable.\u201d<\/p>\n
After Mr. Abbott spoke, a live elephant draped with a banner declaring \u201cUnity Drives Victory\u201d was led through the convention hall, stopping only briefly to urinate near a press area.<\/p>\n
Mr. Abbott\u2019s speech followed decisive primary election victories by a slate<\/a> 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\u2019s politics.<\/p>\n At the top of the ticket is Ken Paxton, the state attorney general who defeated the state\u2019s sitting Republican senator, John Cornyn, using an unapologetic, anti-incumbent MAGA message.<\/p>\n Despite years of not appearing in person at the full convention, Mr. Abbott is no moderate. During his decade as governor, he\u2019s helped set the conservative policy agenda, most recently as the lead supporter of the state\u2019s new $1 billion school voucher program.<\/p>\n Having cruised to victory in his own primary, Mr. Abbott appeared on 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.<\/p>\n Once considered a fringe gathering of dissident activists, the state party\u2019s three-day convention is now positioned to more firmly define the future of the most influential red state in the country \u2014 after years of clamoring for a seat at the table.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re setting the table now,\u201d said Jim Henson, the director of the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas at Austin.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s platform and priorities may fare better. The speaker of the Texas House, Dustin Burrows, is set to address the convention \u2014 a rarity for someone in his position and a sign legislative leaders are listening closely to the party\u2019s wants.<\/p>\n In his speech, Mr. Abbott called for restrictions on spending by local governments in order to cut property taxes, a ban on local governments hiring H-1B visa holders and a new law to \u201ctotally ban Shariah,\u201d or Islamic religious codes The state needs the tools \u201cto shut it down,\u201dthe governor added.<\/p>\n Watching from afar, Democrats in Texas hope the opposition\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Heading into the gathering in downtown Houston, Republicans are looking to put aside their divisions and unify<\/a> against what many see as newly energized Democrats.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Democrats are playing for keeps, and you know, they do have some opportunities,\u201d Tom Oliverson, the chairman of the Texas House Republican Caucus, said in an interview. \u201cSo, you better get out there and work your tail off and fight like you\u2019ve never fought before.\u201d<\/p>\n