Texas Tribune: GOP Approves Hardline Immigration Stance in Party Platform.
In the 2012 Convention, the party adopted a moderate immigration policy in its platform, including what was called the Texas Solution, which included a proposal for a guest worker program. This was removed following efforts by Tea Party delegates.
Huffington Post: Texas GOP Platform Draft Endorses Gay Conversion Therapy.
The party platform continues to contain language critical of homosexuality, and promotes the use of psychological techniques that other states have banned. Gay Republican groups were prevented from putting up booths at the convention. There are reports that the state Democratic Party will invite them to do so at their convention.
Texas Tribune: Cruz Runs Away With Straw Poll at GOP Convention.
A straw poll was conducted to see who the convention delegates supported for the presidency in 2016 and Senator Cruz was the overwhelming winner with 43% of the vote. Far behind him was Ben Carson, Rand Paul and Governor Perry (11%).
Dallas Morning News: Texas GOP splits between social conservatives, libertarians.
While attention is focused primarily on the battle between the Tea Party and the business sector, this article points out that a larger battle is brewing between Christian conservatives - who see a role for religion on state affairs - and libertarian who are more secular and focus primarily on shrinking government, including leaving moral decisions - including drug use and gay marriage - to individuals. 2306 students should note that this sounds a lot like the conflict described in the slides on political culture between the traditionalist and individualist political cultures argued to be dominant in the state.
This article contains a great quote describing the Texas Republican Party, but applies to all parties. You should memorize it. It comes from the Texas Republican Party chair:
Texas GOP Chairman Steve Munisteri said the Republican Party is a confederacy of several factions that often overlap and, over time, have traded places in influence. The party establishment, now in eclipse as the tea party asserts control, shares the libertarian opposition to government regulation. Many social conservatives agree with military hawks on a robust foreign policy.
“A smart candidate recognizes that our party is not monolithic and [that] there’s wide disagreement and tries to focus on where we agree rather than where we disagree,” said Munisteri.
The Texas Observer: Backs to the Future .
The article details the difficulty party leadership is having in adopting policy positions that reach out to groups - primarily Hispanics - that do not identify with the party. Activists often push back and prevent these positions from adoption. Though those might continue to be successful strategies in the shirt run, they might not be so in the long run.