Texas GOP Puts out Welcome Mat for Republican National Convention

The Texas Republican Party says it would be more than happy to host the GOP National Convention if North Carolina can’t meet President Donald Trump’s demands that the event be free of any coronavirus restrictions on attendance.

“Texas would welcome President Trump and the RNC Convention,” Texas Republican Party Chair James Dickey told the Austin American-Statesman. “Until then, based upon Gov. Abbott’s progress in opening Texas, we are on track for our state convention as planned in person in Houston in July.”

Trump fired off a series of Memorial Day tweets in which he demanded North Carolina’s Democratic leadership commit to a full in-person convention in Charlotte or risk losing it. Vice President Mike Pence said later that Florida, Georgia and Texas are among the states the GOP would consider if North Carolina falters.

“I love the Great State of North Carolina, so much so that I insisted on having the Republican National Convention in Charlotte at the end of August,” Trump tweeted. “Unfortunately, Democrat Governor, @RoyCooperNC is still in Shutdown mood & unable to guarantee that by August we will be allowed full attendance in the Arena. In other words, we would be spending millions of dollars building the Arena to a very high standard without even knowing if the Democrat governor would allow the Republican Party to fully occupy the space.

“Plans are being made by many thousands of enthusiastic Republicans, and others, to head to beautiful North Carolina in August. They must be immediately given an answer by the Governor as to whether or not the space will be allowed to be fully occupied. If not, we will be reluctantly forced to find with all the jobs and economic development it brings, another Republican National Convention site. This is not something I want to do.

“Thank you and I LOVE the people of North Carolina!”

Vice President Mike Pence said later that Florida, Georgia and Texas are among the states the GOP would consider if North Carolina falters.

Trump has been invited to speak at the Texas GOP convention in mid-July, which the party has announced will be an in-person event with appropriate social distancing procedures in place. There’s no word on whether Trump will accept. 

The national Republican convention is scheduled for August. The last time the party held its national convention in Texas was 1992, when Houston’s now-shuttered Astrodome played host.