The Republican Party of Texas Has a White Supremacist Problem

AUSTIN, Texas – Today, the Texas Tribune took a deep dive into the Texas GOP chair Matt Rinaldi’s dealings with multiple groups and individuals with ties to white supremacy. The article summarizes Rinaldi’s long standing relationships with billionaire extremists Tim Dunn and Dan and Farris Wilks, who have recently been in the spotlight for funding Defend Texas Liberty and leading the fight to defund Texas public schools. Additionally, the Texas Tribune highlights Rinaldi’s chaotic tenure as RPT chair from collecting millions in contributions from neo-Nazi’s, ignoring SREC leadership calls to action, and severing the most active branch of their Party, the Young Republicans of Texas over extremist platform ideologies.

Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa issued the following statement:

“The Republican Party of Texas obviously has a white supremacist problem. Over the last few weeks, we’ve seen Matt Rinaldi and the state’s top leaders rightfully scrutinized for meeting with Hitler sympathizers, accepting millions in cash from PACs with white nationalist ties, and passing legislation that these hate groups have lobbied for. And to make it worse – Matt Rinaldi has defended these actions with a MAGA fist by silencing SREC members and other leaders with a sound mind in their Party. 

“In a state as rich in diversity and culture as Texas – it's downright dangerous to have a white supremacist sympathizer at the helm of the state Republican Party. Rinaldi’s record reflects an agenda pumped full of cruelty, hatred and self-serviceness which has resulted in an all-out civil war within the Texas GOP. From the local, state and federal levels – we’re witnessing the Republican Party crumble from within due to MAGA extremism. And while the RPT struggles to repair Matt Rinaldi’s damage – Texas Democrats are more united than ever to elect leaders that reflect our values and our ever-growing electorate.”

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