A former Congressman from Florida has been chosen to be the next chairman of the Republican Party of Texas. Allen West claimed victory about 3:30 Monday morning.
West defeated James Dickey, who was running for a second term.
Delegates were meeting remotely, and the vote was delayed when Dickey said a cyber-attack had taken the party's voting system offline.
"I just want to say how truly humbled I am by this honor, and that I will work hard for Texas and Texans," West wrote a statement.
Before the vote, he posted a video online saying the Texas Republican Party would need a leader who could take a "tough stance," headed into a budget year that will include reduced revenue from the oil and gas industry.
"Leadership is also about saying this is how we can win, this is how we can overcome, this is how we can be on the high ground," he said. "I don't think we want to see a Texas going forward that resembles some of these major population centers. I don't think we want to see a Texas that is more-so about being ruled than being governed. I think we want to see a Texas that, once again, rewards the rugged, individualistic, entrepreneurial spirit that we have here and not crushing it."
About an hour after West claimed victory, Dickey conceded. He responded with a Facebook post congratulating West. Dickey says during his time as chairman, 120,000 Republican voters were registered and 49 party platform planks became legislation.
"I love the Republican Party and all of the grassroots Republicans who make us great. We are truly a bottom-up Party here in Texas, written in our rules to be that way, allowing our voices to be truly representative of those who make our Party great. I wish Lt. Col. West the very best in this role. Thank you for the honor of serving as your Chair. Let's win in November. May God bless you and May God bless Texas," Dickey wrote.
President Donald Trump also congratulated West.