Texas Republican Chairman Matt Rinaldi announces he will step aside when term ends in May
Matt Rinaldi, the former firebrand conservative state lawmaker who has been the chairman of the Texas Republican Party since July 2021, said Friday he won't seek reelection as head of the state's long-standing dominant political party.
"It's time for me to focus on my obligations to my wife, Corley, and my son, Rush," Rinaldi said in a statement.
Rinaldi is also among some Republicans who have criticized the Texas House's decision last year to bring impeachment charges against state Attorney General Ken Paxton, a three-term Republican.
Under Rinaldi, the state GOP has been critical of Republican House Speaker Dade Phelan for appointing Democrats to chair a handful of House committees. The party in February censured Phelan "for lack of fidelity" to GOP principles.
In 2023, the state GOP censured Republican U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales of San Antonio for supporting a bipartisan gun safety measure in the wake of the Uvalde school mass shooting, and it also censured state Rep. Andrew Murr, R-Junction, who led the House's impeachment of Paxton.
Paxton, in a post on X, formerly Twitter, called Rinaldi a "tremendous chair" and endorsed North Texas Republican activist Abraham George to be the next leader of the state party.
"Abraham is a principled conservative who served well as a (State Republican Executive Committee) member and chairman of the Collin (County) GOP," Paxton said.
Rinaldi also lined up behind George, saying he "will keep our state party one that wins elections." George announced his candidacy shortly after the incumbent chairman said he was stepping aside.
"I'm ready to deliver on what our Party needs," George said on X. "I have a proven track record of raising funds, and organizing the grassroots behind a unified message and agenda. Let's get to work."
Rinaldi, who represented a portion of suburban Dallas County for two terms in the House, made headlines in Texas and beyond on the final day of the 2017 legislative session when, during a heated debate over immigration legislation, he said he would “put a bullet in the head” of then-state Rep. Poncho Nevarez, D-Eagle Pass.
Rinaldi was defeated for reelection in 2018 by Democrat Julie Johnson.
Rinaldi's term as party chairman will expire, and his successor will be elected by State Republican Executive Committee members, at the state GOP convention May 23-25 in San Antonio.
Because Republicans hold every statewide office and control both legislative chambers, the state party chairperson typically has a much lower public profile than the governor, lieutenant governor and House speaker.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas Republican Chairman Matt Rinaldi will not seek reelection in May