RPT Chair Candidate Forum
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2024 RPT Chair Forum, Question Start Times on Video
RPT Chair Candidate Forum
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RPT Chair Candidate Forum Introduction
We hope to see you at the 2024 RPT Chair Candidate Forum. You may attend in person or online. This is a grassroots led effort to ensure that YOU, the RPT State Convention delegates can make an informed decision on who you want to lead our party going forward. Please check back to this page often for updates.
Delegates and Alternates are welcome to submit up to 3 questions each using the Google form on this page. The moderator will choose questions from this list.
This Forum is hosted by the Senate District 7 grassroots and will be moderated by Senate District 7 Chair, James Buntrock. The Republican Party of Texas had no part in organizing this event.
“...Without His concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel…” - Benjamin Franklin
Psalm 127:1
“Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it…"
RPT Chair Candidates
Ben Armenta
ABOUT BEN
Attended Rock’s Westwood High School in 1997 and attended Texas A&M University. While at A&M, he met and married his wife, Kristi Bult, from Como, Texas.
Ben finished his studies at the University of Houston-Downtown and became a teacher in Spring, focusing on middle school special education. Since then, Ben has worked in large oil and gas operations and high growth start-ups, gaining valuable experience in managing systems and teams. Having successfully built and run multiple businesses, Ben became a Republican candidate for Commissioner of the General Land Office of Texas in 2021. As a conservative activist, he has lobbied in Austin for Texas Right to Life, conducted community outreach as a Trustee for Hispanic Republicans of Texas, advocated for conservative policies at School Boards, and also hosted a podcast for Christian, conservative families, called The Answer with Ben Armenta.
Ben and Kristi have been married for 24 years and live in Katy with their two high school children, Lilly and Jack.
Mike Garcia
ABOUT MIKE
Mike Garcia is a constitutional conservative Texas attorney with nearly two decades of Texas GOP and legislative experience. Throughout his career, Mike has served as Executive Director and General Counsel of the Texas Freedom Caucus, Chief of Staff in both the Texas House and Senate, and Legislative Affairs Director at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Mike worked with grassroots leaders and legislators over the years to help pass laws such as Constitutional Carry, a ban on men participating in girl’s sports, a ban on CRT in public schools, religious freedom protections during declared disasters, and election integrity reforms. He also worked as a pro-bono attorney on President Donald Trump’s Pennsylvania legal team in the immediate aftermath of the 2020 election.
Mike possesses the necessary knowledge about the House and Senate rules to help initiate effective legislative strategy to beat Democrats who try to manipulate the rules to kill good conservative legislation. He believes that if we as a party put God first above all else, everything else will fall in line if we trust the Lord to provide. That doesn’t mean we won’t have to fight for it, but Mike has never backed down from a good old legislative fight.
Mike lives with his wife and four children, and another little one on the way in July. Mike and his wife are parishioners at St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church in Dripping Springs, Texas. In addition to teaching Constitutional Law at Concordia University, he runs a law practice serving clients in the Central Texas area.
Dr. Dana Myers
ABOUT DR. DANA
Dr. Myers is running for Chair of the Republican Party of Texas. She is currently finishing her second year as Vice Chair of the Republican Party of Texas where she has been focused on election integrity, border security, and training and equipping our precinct and county chairs with the latest technology to complement their jobs. Dana has been involved in the Republican party for many years in various volunteer roles:
Past Vice Chair of the Harris County Republican Party (two terms, different chairmen), Past VP Membership of the Texas Federation Republican Women Executive Board, Past Regional Director for the Victory/RPT/TFRW Strike Force for Harris and the seven surrounding counties (this statewide effort was responsible for registering and adding an additional 213,000 new Republicans which enabled us to win 4 additional house seats, which kept statewide redistricting in (Republican hands), Past HCRP Co-Chair of Engagement, Past Republican Party of Texas Communications Task Force member, and past two-term President of Magic Circle Republican Women’s group in Houston.
Dr. Myers is married to Dr. Jon Spiers and is a longtime resident of Houston, Texas.
Weston Martinez
ABOUT WESTON
Weston Martinez is a conservative Republican From San Antonio Texas who went to college on a Bull riding Scholarship and has 5 children and a wife of 23 years. Weston is a Pastor, Telecom, Oil & Gas Businessman Arbitrator; Texas Real Estate Commissioner 2010-2017; Political media analyst, Pro Life-Gun-Family-Israel-Texas
Weston created the voter fraud bill that made voting fraud a felony in Texas and another bill that made human trafficking a death penalty eligible offense. He also recently worked with Project Veritas to get the woman arrested from Bexar County made national news on Voter Fraud and is credited with working with the Attorney General to help execute the fastest rest of the history of Texas on Voter Fraud
- Weston served as a successful Statewide Commissioner for almost 7 years under 2 Governors
- Weston lead the fight to protect the Alamo from being destroyed by leftists in Texas
- He created legislation that made human trafficking the death penalty offense and 1 to make voter fraud a felony in Texas
- As an arbitrator, he represents several key January 6 clients
- Weston is Pro Life, Pro Gun, Pro-Family, Pro Israel and Pro Texas!
- Weston has been endorsed politically over the years by
- Roger Stone
- Sheriff Joe Arpaio
- Mike Huckabee
- Sid Miller
- Jeremy Storey
Abraham George
ABOUT ABRAHAM
Abraham George is a man with tireless dedication and unwavering commitment to the Republican cause. While many recognize him for his leadership roles within the GOP, such as the former SREC member and as Chairman of Collin County Republican Party, but few know the remarkable journey that shaped him into the steadfast advocate he is today.
Abraham's journey is a testament to the American dream in action. He legally immigrated to the United States at the age of 16, pursuing higher education while working full-time and volunteering at his church. His decision to run for the Chairmanship of the Republican Party of Texas came from a deep-seated commitment to preserving the values that define America. As a Christian, father, husband, conservative, and small business owner with a unique perspective shaped by his immigrant experience, Abraham is dedicated to ensuring that the Republican Party grows in scope, and that our priorities are passed at the next legislative session. He believes, this is a fight we must wage against compromise and complacency. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Abraham George.
RPT Chair Candidate Forum Information
- YouTube Channel, which will hold the forum video event
Candidate Listing Position Video
Moderator
ABOUT JAMES
James Buntrock serves as the Executive Director for My God Votes, the Harris County Republican Party Senatorial District 7 Chair and an Associate Pastor of Glorious Way Church in Houston
James activates people of faith in public policy. When his church opened during the pandemic, the New York Post called him a “renegade pastor.” His church sued the governor to ensure all Texas churches would not be punished for staying open. Since then, James has led an effort through My God Votes to restore Godly values in state capitols by hosting weekly church services in the state capitol buildings during regular legislative sessions. Participating pastors from across the host states (Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana) have experienced a “wake up” moment where they recognize God’s call for Christian leadership in government and engage their congregations in local politics. The effort is catching on in other states.
James received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering technology from Texas A&M, Corpus Christi, and has a background in commercial construction. He also spent a year as a tall ship sailor. An effective leader, he unites people to accomplish common goals with efficient, fact-based solutions. James and his wife, Claire, have three children.
"I commit to remain neutral for the 2024 RPT Chair race. I will not voice any opinion for or against any candidate in this race. My goal through this forum is to provide a trusted resource for our statewide delegates. This is my commitment to the 2024 RPT Convention Delegates of Texas.” - James Buntrock
