The State Republican Executive Committee of the Texas Republican Party voted to partner with a newly formed young Republicans organization after the previous group chose to end its affiliation.
Young Republicans of Texas (YRT) announced the new partnership, posting on social media, “Today marks a new day for YR’s across Texas. As an official auxiliary of [the Texas Republican Party], Young Republicans of Texas will fight for conservative policy priorities and emphasize YR growth and engagement statewide. We will present a positive, conservative message in a God-honoring way!”
The move came shortly after the previous affiliate, the Texas Young Republican Federation, voluntarily opted to end its partnership with the Republican Party of Texas in August, citing issues it had with Texas Republican Party Chairman Matt Rinaldi.
Several local young Republican groups that have had longstanding issues with the Texas Young Republican Federation, such as Dallas Young Republicans, now form the basis of the new YRT organization.
Collin Pruett, the vice chairman of the now-official state party affiliate, told The Dallas Express, “Texas Young Republicans opted to disaffiliate from the Republican Party of Texas over a series of personal disputes that have nothing to do with the party’s function or role.”
“After the Texas Young Republican Federation left the state party, several chapters throughout [Texas] decided to split off and remain affiliated with the Republican Party of Texas,” he explained. “The [State Republican Executive Committee], which governs the party, voted to accept the chapters who wanted to remain affiliated under a new umbrella organization.”
“We want to represent actual Republican voters and advocate for border security, affordable housing, and fiscal responsibility,” he added.
When asked about the previous group, Pruett, who has been involved in conservative politics for years at the local, state, and federal level, suggested, “I think the old group fell apart due to petty infighting between out-of-touch political interests and bush league consultants. They lost a sense of purpose and mission and stopped representing young voters.”
“They voluntarily left the Texas GOP without informing their own members. They shouldn’t be shocked that most young Republicans want to be part of the youth wing of the Republican Party of Texas,” he claimed. “It’s kind of the point of the whole YR organization, isn’t it? It just shows how out of touch the leadership is with their own members and the GOP in general.”
The split and emergence of a new group marks yet another step in the political reorientation of Texas Republicans, which recently culminated in the acquittal of Attorney General Ken Paxton after a rushed and potentially unlawful impeachment push by many Republicans in the House.
“The old organization consistently fought against Republicans like AG Ken Paxton and President Trump,” Pruett commented.
Paxton celebrated the admission of the new group, posting on social media, “Welcome the newest generation of Young Republicans.”
Derrick Wilson, the current chair of the Texas Young Republican Federation, responded to the new affiliation, posting, “It has been a long couple of days. I’m happy to be going home to what really matters — my family.”
“I’m proud of my team over at Texas Young Republicans. They’re the best anywhere and there is no other group I would rather have by my side. We’re going to do great things over the next couple of years, and it’s going to be because of them,” Wilson added.
The Young Republican National Federation (YRNF), which is currently led by a former chair of the Texas Young Republican Federation, denounced the new group and its partnership with the Texas Republican Party.
“This group has no affiliation with YRNF and is nothing more than yet another YR shadow organization composed of disgruntled former YRs,” YRNF claimed in a statement. “As such, this organization is illegitimate. … While we recognize that the [Republican Party of Texas] has the ability to recognize organizations as they choose, its actions today are unprecedented and threaten to fracture the long standing relationships within the GOP both in Texas and the nation as a whole.”