Abraham George, chairman of the Republican Party of Texas, was ousted by Vice Chairwoman D’rinda Randall at the state’s GOP convention on Friday.The leadership change dealt a blow to Republicans allied with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who won the Republican primary runoff for the Senate last month.Notably, Paxton backed the Indian-American businessman when he ran for the Texas House in 2024. George was ultimately defeated in the Republican primary election for that race, but he retained Paxton’s support as he pivoted to the Texas GOP leadership role.
Paxton endorsed the incumbent chairman again ahead of the delegate vote at the Texas Republican Party Convention, but it proved futile. Randall was the overwhelming favorite, according to the vote tally.
Randall chose David Covey, a right-wing activist who served on the state party’s governing board and lost to Texas Republican state Rep. Dade Phelan in 2024, as her pick for vice chairman. Covey previously ran for party chairman in 2021, but he was bested by former Texas Republican state Rep. Matt Rinaldi.
George, whose two-year term has come to a close, conceded the race to his successor and her running mate.
“While this race has come to an end, our mission continues,” George said on X. “Now is the time to come together, unite behind our Republican nominees, support the entire Republican ticket in November, advance our legislative priorities in the next session, and continue standing firmly for the conservative principles outlined in our platform.”
