The Texas Republican Party has elected former State Representative Matt Rinaldi to become chairman. Rinaldi will serve the rest of Allan West's term; West resigned and plans to run against Governor Greg Abbott in the 2022 primary.
Rinaldi served two terms in the Texas House of Representatives from Irving from 2015 to 2019. During the 2017 session, he said he called Immigration and Customs Enforcement when protesters filled the Texas Capitol to protest a bill that would ban sanctuary cities.
At least two dozen people were charged with misdemeanor counts of trespassing as a result of the protest, and the bill ultimately passed.
Rinaldi lost his campaign for a third term in 2018 to Democrat Julie Johnson. Johnson won the district with 57% of the vote.
"I'm honored the SREC chose me to lead the Party into the ever-important 2022 election cycle," Rinaldi wrote in a statement. "Republican state office holders and legislative majorities have led this State to prosperity and success. We look forward to continuing to make Texas a beacon of freedom for other states to emulate."
Rinaldi will serve the rest of West's term as Texas GOP Chair through the state Republican convention in 2022.
He says he intends to run for a full term after that.
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