The Republican Party of Texas leadership race has become a competition between Texas First Pledge signers, marking a historic shift in how independence principles have moved from grassroots organizing to mainstream party infrastructure.
All three major candidates running for RPT Chair and Vice Chair at the June convention have signed the Texas First Pledge—the commitment to support legislation enabling a Texas independence referendum.
Current RPT Chair Abraham George announced his re-election bid on February 9, setting up a June showdown against current Vice Chair D’rinda Randall, who is challenging him for the top position. George has served as Chair since May 2024 and signed the Texas First Pledge during that campaign.
Randall signed the Texas First Pledge on May 22, 2024, and is running for Chair on a platform emphasizing grassroots engagement and conservative values. She currently serves as RPT Vice Chair.
David Covey, who signed the Texas First Pledge in September 2023 during his challenge to House Speaker Dade Phelan, is running for Vice Chair on a unified ticket with Randall.
“The Republican Party of Texas must recommit itself clearly and unapologetically — to a Texas First governing philosophy,” Covey stated in his February 11 campaign announcement. “This is not a slogan. It is a mandate. Texas, with its inspiring history, traditional way of life, and independent spirit, must remain the party’s highest priority.”
The result: if the field remains unchanged, no matter who wins at the June convention, both RPT Chair and Vice Chair will again be Texas First Pledge signers.
This represents a fundamental shift from five years ago, when the pledge was criticized as “fringe politics” by legacy media outlets. Now it serves as mainstream Republican orthodoxy in Texas—candidates sign it to demonstrate their commitment to Texas sovereignty rather than despite it.
The Randall-Covey ticket emphasizes enforcement of Rule 46, the delegate-approved rule requiring registered Republicans to vote in GOP primaries. In 2024, nearly 73 percent of Republican primary voters supported closed primaries, and delegates formally adopted Rule 46 at the state convention.
“For too long, open primaries have weakened the party, allowing Democrats to influence Republican nominations, which undermines what is best for Texas,” Covey stated. “Texas First means spending time in Texas, listening to Texans, and delivering results for Texas. Period.”
George’s re-election campaign highlights achievements including a lawsuit to close primaries and passage of 43 Republican priority bills during the 2025 legislative session. His February announcement emphasized continuing the party’s work on property tax reform, border security, and election integrity.
Covey brings extensive grassroots credentials to the Vice Chair race. He formerly served as Orange County GOP Chairman, President of the Texas Republican County Chairs Association (TRCCA), and SREC Committeeman for Senate District 3.
The Texas First Pledge movement began in 2019 as a TNM electoral strategy to build legislative support for independence referendum legislation. What started as a tool to identify sovereignty-minded candidates has become standard practice for Republican leadership races.
The June 11-13 convention in Houston will determine whether George retains the Chair or Randall takes over, but the outcome is already clear: Texas First principles will guide RPT leadership regardless of who wins.
“By strengthening the Republican Party of Texas, we preserve the future of our state and help secure the future of this nation,” Covey concluded. “As Texas goes, so goes America. Here in Texas, the redder, the better. It is time for the Republican Party of Texas to once again lead the nation.”
The normalization of Texas sovereignty principles within Republican Party infrastructure demonstrates how independence has moved from movement politics to institutional power. Five years after the Texas First Pledge launched, it now serves as the baseline commitment for statewide GOP leadership.
