HOUSTON (Talk1370.com) -- A federal judge has ruled that Houston officials must allow the Republican Party of Texas to proceed with its in-person convention.
The ruling Friday afternoon by Judge Lynn Hughes of the Southern District of Texas is the latest twist in the battle over the convention, following the decision last week by Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and the Houston First Corporation to cancel the contract to host the convention at the city's George R. Brown Convention Center.
Party officials on Friday joined a lawsuit filed by conservative activists, after technical difficulties derailed an attempt to begin the convention online Thursday. Early Friday morning, the party's executive committee voted to postpone proceedings until Saturday.
Party chairman James Dickey praised the ruling in a statement. "We applaud Judge Hughes for affirming the position the RPT took in our original lawsuit, making clear that Mayor Turner cannot use pretext to infringe our right to an in-person convention," Dickey said. "I hope this ruling sets a precedent for other state and local Republican parties and organizations who come against a bully Democrat mayor’s malicious shutdown."
Friday's ruling comes days after the Texas Supreme Court upheld the city's cancellation of the contract.
Turner blasted the ruling and promised an appeal. "We are in the midst of a pandemic, a public health crisis," Turner said in a statement. "More people are being admitted to our hospitals and ICUs, and more people are dying. The State Republican Executive Committee is being totally irresponsible in continuing to push for an indoor, in-person convention. This reflects a total disregard for the health and safety of employees and people in our city. After denying the Republican Party's request for a temporary restraining order, the federal judge late Friday evening apparently has changed his mind Upon receiving a written order from the federal judge, the City of Houston and Houston First will appeal."
In a statement released after the ruling, the party says it will continue with its plans to resume its online convention Saturday, with the "ultimate failsafe" in place if technical difficulties persist, to ensure the party can elect its delegates for the Republican National Convention and select its electors for the Electoral College. Those tasks are required to be completed by Monday.