SC Texas News

Fayette County Republican Chair Deborah Frank doesn't mind that this year's Republican State Convention is being held online.

Frank said while she preferred an in-person conference, she was fine with a virtual one.

"An in-person convention was my first preference," Frank said in an interview with SC Texas News. "However, the Democrat Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner canceled our contract with the convention center three days before our start date purely for political reasons."

Frank said since the party failed to get relief from the courts, the party made the most logical and expeditious decision: to conduct an online convention. Frank said she didn't feel that the virtual convention would take away from communication for local Republican members.

"Delegates will have the same opportunities to make motions, point of order or inquiry, and vote," Frank said.

Frank said that while she knew some did not want to attend in person if they had to wear masks, many were willing to do so if they could hold the convention in person.

"I know some delegates did not want to attend in person if a mask was required," Frank said. "However, there were many others who were willing to do whatever it takes to conduct our convention and elect our chair, vice-chair, ... national convention delegates and presidential electors."

Frank said the goal was to make sure President Donald Trump wins in November.

"We are unified and committed to completing the business of the convention, then moving forward to ensure President Trump is re-elected," Frank said.

Frank said the bottom line is that her county would have more delegates participating online than they would have for the in-person convention.

"The only thing we will miss is the informational sessions and socializing outside of the convention meetings," Frank said.

Republican Party of Texas Chairman James Dickey issued a statement on the decision.

"The State Republican Executive Committee voted this evening to move our State Convention online," Dickey said. "We thank our incredible team of attorneys for their valiant work exhausting all legal remedies fighting the partisan Democrat shutdown of our in-person convention over the last several days."

Dickey said in the statement that the State Convention week in Houston was starting off well with temporary rules, platform and legislative priorities committees that were in person.

"We look forward to continuing our important work this week in an online convention, including adopting our platform, electing our party officers, electing our National Delegates and alternates and the pinnacle moment of electing the Presidential Electors who will proudly cast Texas’ 38 electoral votes for President Donald J. Trump," Dickey said in the statement.

The Republican Party of Texas sued the City of Houston over its decision, arguing the mayor couldn't treat the convention differently from other public events, like protests, that he supported. It argues that a political viewpoint can't be the basis for unequal treatment.