Camped in hotels nearly a 90-minute drive away from Milwaukee, delegates from Texas are farther from the action at the Republican National Convention than usual.
They typically are given choice lodging assignments and seats toward the front of the arena, where cameras often capture their cowboy hats and western attire. Though they got bad hotel assignments, the delegates do have prime seats.
This is the rare presidential election season when no major Texan sought the nomination. And no Texans were finalists in former President Donald Trump’s vice presidential sweepstakes, which went to Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance.
Still, Lone Star State Republicans could play significant roles in the party’s future and in a possible second administration of Trump.
That potential is on display this week, as Sen. Ted Cruz, Gov. Greg Abbott and Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson had prime speaking roles. Even more Texans could emerge as major players later, particularly if the GOP is victorious in November.
Texas is the largest Republican-controlled state in the country and helps set the tone with conservative legislation related to immigration, abortion, crime and taxation. In 2016 and 2020, leaders of Trump’s campaign finance team were from Texas, including Dallas investor Roy Bailey, who served as co-chairman of his joint fundraising operation with the Republican National Committee.
Over the years, Trump has inserted himself into Texas politics by endorsing candidates in statewide and local races.
“This is a Trump convention so, with that, it’s more about personality and the direction of the party rather than state-centric,” said Republican political consultant Matthew Langston, who is attending the convention. “The reality is that Texas still has an incredibly strong influence in the building and on President Trump.”
Other political analysts agree.
“Texas still remains the largest red state and from a political perspective, it’s still a driver of Republican policies nationally,” said Mark Jones, a political scientist from Rice University.
Some of Trump’s top allies are Texans, including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Agricultural Commissioner Sid Miller, who is sitting in for Patrick on Texas delegation business while the lieutenant governor remains in Texas in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl.
“So goes Texas, so goes the rest of the party,” said Miller, an early supporter of Trump, who last Saturday was 30 feet away from Trump during an assassination attempt on the former president.
Miller said Texas will help Trump win in November and lead the nation afterward.
“We’ve had some good leaders in the past,” Miller added. “We’re still influential, and it won’t be surprising if Texans play a major role in the administration.”
Miller was a finalist for U.S. Secretary of Agriculture in 2017, which went to former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue. He said he went through the vetting process to become Agriculture Secretary for a second Trump term, but Joe Biden won the election.
The Texas agriculture commissioner since 2015, Miller says he’s not lobbying to join Trump’s administration.
“Right now, I’m working hard as I can to get Trump elected,” Miller said.
Texans who spoke at the convention are set to be major political players on the national stage – if they choose that path.
Cruz, who is up for reelection this year against U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, addressed the convention Tuesday night.
In 2016, he was the runner-up for the GOP presidential nomination won by Trump. During his speech in that convention, Cruz declined to endorse Trump and was booed off the stage. He later backed Trump and became an ally.
His Tuesday speech was much different. He said “God bless Donald J. Trump” and urged delegates to fight for their nominee’s election over Biden.
Cruz didn’t run for president this year but is widely expected to consider a White House run in 2028. A win in the competitive race against Allred could set him up for that bid.
He could also be a line for a high-level cabinet post under Trump. In September 2020, Trump put Cruz, a former Texas solicitor general, on his list of potential Supreme Court nominees, should the position open. At the time, Cruz said he wouldn’t accept such a nomination.
Other Texas Republicans could be influential in the aftermath of 2024.
Abbott contemplated running for president but never entered the race. He’s raised his national profile by bussing migrants from the border to New York, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and other cities.
He’s a former Texas attorney general and Supreme Court justice, so Abbott has the resume for a high-level cabinet post.
“Gov. Abbott has eclipsed every other governor in terms of his political influence and visibility,” said Jones, the Rice political scientist.
Abbott told The Dallas Morning News he’s not eyeing a job in a Trump administration.
“My interest is focused solely on the state of Texas,” the governor said.
Meanwhile, the former president has called Ken Paxton the best attorney general in the country. If Trump is elected, Paxton could be in the running to become his attorney general.
However, Paxton may have other plans. Last year, he told Fox News he’s considering challenging Sen. John Cornyn in 2026. Since then, the two elected leaders have traded barbs.
Cornyn, meanwhile, is seeking to replace Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, as Republican Senate leader.
Johnson, the Dallas mayor, made his first big speech since his 2023 decision to switch from Democrat to Republican.
In his speech, he touted his conservative policies on public safety, ending homeless encampments and border security.
“Together, let’s make America safe again by retiring Joe Biden and electing Donald J. Trump,” he said.
That final line in his speech could be enough to get Trump’s attention.
No matter what happens in November, Texas leaders insist they’ll continue to set the pace with conservative policy.
“Texas will be Texas,” Miller said.