“Do you want your party to be merely a cheerleading society whom nearly puts an R beside their names? Or do you want to take the lead in this fight for America,” said Rinaldi.

All of the candidates made their pitch to party delegates Thursday. Two of the three presumed frontrunners in the race are looking to change the party’s path. Travis County GOP Chair Matt Mackowiak blames Rinaldi for a small party staff and bad financial decisions.

“It’s time for competent leadership in the state party. It’s time for someone who can develop a vision, develop a plan, bring the A-Team in, raise the money, unify us the grassroots and everyone behind one goal,” said Mackowiak.

The party’s current vice chair, Dana Myers, is vying for the chair position and asserts that internal turmoil has divided the party.

“As your chair, our state party will become an electoral force across this state. No county and no Republican will have to stand alone without help and support,” said Myers.

Another frontrunner in the race is Abraham George. Rinaldi endorsed George, as did Attorney General Ken Paxton, and many Republicans assume he will keep the party on the same trajectory.

“Do you want a Texas Republican Party that is ceremonial and giving out awards and patting each other on the back and say we’re doing great? Or do you want a Republican Party that is going to start fighting the Democrats, radicals and RINO Republicans that are going against everything we stand for?” said George. 

Some GOP delegates aren’t satisfied by Rinaldi’s preferred pick to be his predecessor. His allies have helped him overcome backlash after police say he tried to confront his wife’s alleged lover with a loaded gun.

“It’s been a war on women. The person he’s promoting as public police displays of domestic violence against his wife,” said delegate Walter West.

The party will elect a new chair Friday afternoon.