Texas GOP rejects ban on party members associating with neo-Nazis
The state Republican Party's executive committee voted down a proposal to block constituents from linking up with people with 'pro-Nazi sympathies'


The leadership body for the Republican Party of Texas this week voted down a measure to block members from associating with people and organizations "known to espouse or tolerate antisemitism, pro-Nazi sympathies or Holocaust denial." This came just weeks after neo-Nazi extremist Nick Fuentes was photographed meeting with a high-profile conservative political operative whose "Defend Texas Liberty" PAC has helped elect Republicans statewide.
The clause, part of a broader resolution in support of Israel, was voted down 32-29 by the Texas GOP's Executive Committee on Saturday, according to The Texas Tribune. Moreover, "roughly half of the board also tried to prevent a record of their vote from being kept," in a move that "stunned some members," the paper reported. Speaking during Saturday's vote, Texas GOP chair Matt Rinaldi claimed that he didn't see "any antisemitic, pro-Nazi or Holocaust denial movement on the right that has any significant traction whatsoever." Rinaldi was also reportedly present in the offices for conservative consulting firm White Horse Strategies, owned by Defend Texas Liberty leader Jonathan Stickland, at the same time as Fuentes last October. He has claimed he was not part of Fuentes' meeting there, and was unaware of Fuentes' presence.
On X, formerly Twitter, several high-profile Texas Republicans spoke out against this weekend's vote, with state House Speaker Dade Phelan calling the failure to adopt the resolution "despicable." Far-right Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said that not including the language in the final resolution was "totally unacceptable to me" while predicting that the executive committee "will correct this at their next meeting."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Despicable. @TexasGOP/SREC can’t even bring themselves to denounce neo-Nazis and Holocaust deniers or cut ties with their top donor who brought them to the dance. There is a moral, anti-Semitic rot festering within the fringes of BOTH parties that must be stopped. https://t.co/EnVgobkUn4December 2, 2023
Regarding today’s votes by the SREC, I’m glad they took a strong stand in support of Israel and against antisemitism. I stand with Israel and, as I have repeatedly made my position abundantly clear, I will not tolerate antisemitism. The values of the Republican Party stand with…December 3, 2023
In a statement, Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa called for Rinaldi to resign, and urged Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel to "open a full investigation" into any ties between the Texas GOP and "anti-semites, Nazi sympathizers and Holocaust deniers."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Rafi Schwartz has worked as a politics writer at The Week since 2022, where he covers elections, Congress and the White House. He was previously a contributing writer with Mic focusing largely on politics, a senior writer with Splinter News, a staff writer for Fusion's news lab, and the managing editor of Heeb Magazine, a Jewish life and culture publication. Rafi's work has appeared in Rolling Stone, GOOD and The Forward, among others.
-
Democrats’ strategy to woo voters for 2026: religion
The Explainer Politicians like Rob Sand and James Talarico have made a name for themselves pushing their faith
-
Brazil’s Bolsonaro sentenced to 27 years for coup attempt
Speed Read Bolsonaro was convicted of attempting to stay in power following his 2022 election loss
-
Why does Donald Trump keep showing up at major sporting events?
Today's Big Question Trump has appeared at the Super Bowl, the Daytona 500 and other events
-
‘Democracy is under threat globally’
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Judge lets Cook stay at Fed while appealing ouster
Speed Read Trump had attempted to fire Cook over allegations of mortgage fraud
-
House posts lewd Epstein note attributed to Trump
Speed Read The estate of Jeffrey Epstein turned over the infamous 2003 birthday note from President Donald Trump
-
Supreme Court allows 'roving' race-tied ICE raids
Speed Read The court paused a federal judge's order barring agents from detaining suspected undocumented immigrants in LA based on race
-
South Korea to fetch workers detained in Georgia raid
Speed Read More than 300 South Korean workers detained in an immigration raid at a Hyundai plant will be released