Republican Party of Texas Vice Chair D’Rinda Randall has been elected chair of the state’s dominant political party, defeating incumbent Chair Abraham George in a closely watched leadership contest at the party’s state convention in Houston on Friday.
George conceded the race shortly before the party’s general session, after delegates had already signaled strong support for Randall in early rounds of voting within Senate district caucuses. His exit marks the end of a two-year tenure that saw both policy victories and growing internal tension within the Texas GOP.
“While this race has come to an end, our mission continues,” George wrote in a social media concession message. “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.”
Randall, who has served as vice chair for the past two years and has been active in GOP politics for nearly two decades, ran alongside vice-chair candidate David Covey. Covey is a conservative activist who previously served on the state party’s governing board and ran unsuccessfully for Texas House against then-Speaker Dade Phelan in 2024. He also ran for party chair in 2021.
George’s running mate was conservative activist Amanda Hopper, wife of state Rep. Andy Hopper (R-Decatur).
Randall’s victory reflects a broader shift in the party’s internal dynamics as it heads into a critical election year. Her campaign emphasized organizational and financial management, grassroots engagement, and messaging strategy. In pre-convention remarks, she raised concerns about the party’s financial outlook, saying the convention could force the organization to operate at a deficit.
During the convention, questions about the party’s finances became a point of controversy. A member of the State Republican Executive Committee estimated the event could result in a $651,000 loss. George disputed that figure, saying the deficit was closer to $100,000 and would be offset by additional registrations.
Randall also highlighted efforts to rebuild donor confidence and strengthen volunteer operations, including training programs for grassroots activists. She additionally emphasized improving outreach to young voters and maintaining a more consistent relationship with the press.
George’s tenure as chair was marked by significant legislative victories for Texas Republicans, including passage of private school vouchers and other socially conservative priorities. Those wins came during a period of heightened Republican control in Austin and reduced some of the factional conflict that has historically divided the state party.
Still, internal tensions resurfaced heading into the convention. Some delegates and activists criticized George for being too accommodating toward establishment Republicans, particularly following his evolving relationship with House Speaker Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock), who succeeded Dade Phelan. Burrows had faced skepticism from parts of the party due to his reliance on Democratic votes to secure the speakership.
Burrows, who is the first sitting Texas House speaker ever invited to address the convention, congratulated Randall and Covey after the vote and praised George’s service. “Texas Republicans are energized and ready for the work ahead,” he said, adding that he looks forward to “working together to strengthen our party and advance the conservative principles Texans value.”
Party leadership elections in Texas are structured by rule to require a male-female pairing for chair and vice chair, ensuring gender balance between the top two positions.
Randall’s election also comes as the party prepares for a contentious general election cycle, including efforts to consolidate support behind Senate nominee Ken Paxton, who recently won a hard-fought primary against incumbent John Cornyn. GOP operatives have warned that lingering divisions from that race could complicate efforts to unify voters.
Trey Trainor, who led the convention’s platform committee, pointed to both financial concerns and turnout challenges within the party. “I think everybody's incredibly nervous about what happened during the primaries,” he said. “They see that the Democrat Party is incredibly engaged. I think the low turnout that you see here shows some apathy of Republican voters.”
The convention itself reflected those concerns, with noticeably sparse attendance among the more than 7,000 registered delegates. Some participants cited high travel costs and scheduling conflicts tied to major events in Houston, including FIFA World Cup preparations, as factors affecting turnout.
George also faced criticism in recent months over both financial management and broader party engagement. Supporters of Randall argued the party needed a more aggressive operational approach and stronger outreach to grassroots activists.
As Randall prepares to assume leadership, she inherits a party that has achieved recent legislative wins but remains divided over strategy, messaging, and its relationship with establishment power centers. Her ability to unify competing factions while maintaining momentum into the fall elections is expected to define the next phase of Texas Republican politics.
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