Texas and Turning Point USA Formally Announce Partnership

The partnership between Turning Point USA and the state of Texas was formalized during a Monday press conference at the state capitol. 

“I want to thank Charlie Kirk for spurring this movement and expanding it across the country,” Governor Greg Abbott said addressing the audience. Abbott expressed gratitude for TPUSA and those he has worked with in the initiative, promising Club America chapters will be protected legally if they face pushback. 

“Let me be clear,” Abbott stated. “Any school that stands in the way of a Club America program in their school should be reported immediately to the Texas Education Agency.” 

This is about values,” Abbott further said. “This is about constitutional principles. This is about a restoration of who we are as a country.” He then discussed his time in high school and certain school organizations that existed then, such as the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, which he likened to Turning Point USA, deeming it a “modern day version” of such organizations.

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick also spoke on the importance of the partnership and how it promotes freedom of speech and religion.

“We should not be ashamed to talk about the things that we believe in. We should not be ashamed to talk about our faith – no matter what faith that may be,” Patrick said.

TPUSA and TPUSA Action Senior Director Josh Thifault discussed his experience working alongside the late TPUSA Founder Charlie Kirk, and then expressed that it is fair, and also societally advantageous, for Club America chapters to be present throughout the state.

“We need to ask ourselves about what kind of society we want to live in,” Thifault added. “We have no problem when the Boys and Girls Club is growing in a community and wants to do social good. Is it a good or bad thing when young men and women want to work hard and get married young and have lots of kids?” he asked.

Turning Point USA would like to thank Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, along with Gil Baumgarten for their extraordinary support of the Club America expansion in Texas.