The Conservative Political Action Convention is being held at Grapevine’s Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center from March 25 to March 28, 2026.
Rachel Royster
rroyster@star-telegram.com
The Conservative Political Action Conference kicks off its second full day on Friday, featuring Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Bo French, a candidate for Texas railroad commissioner who also served as a former Tarrant County Republican Party chair.
Other speakers include Mike Lindell of MyPillow and media personality Steve Bannon.
Follow along for updates from the conference at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center in Grapevine.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at Reagan Dinner
11:06 p.m. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton told a crowd at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Grapevine that he’s optimistic headed into his May runoff against longtime incumbent Sen. John Cornyn.
“I promise you this,” Paxton said. “Instead of having a senator that represents Washington D.C., we’re going to have a senator in Texas that represents Texas and the values of the Republican party.”
Paxton was the keynote speaker at CPAC’s Ronald Reagan dinner, a black-tie optional dinner hosted Friday night.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at CPAC on March 27. Eleanor Dearman Steve Bannon rallies CPAC attendees in support of Trump
1:48 p.m. Steve Bannon appeared in front of an energetic CPAC audience Friday afternoon, urging grassroots efforts to bring more Trump voters out to the polls.
His talking points were scattered across races in Virginia, Georgia and Texas but said the most important thing was to have the president’s back.
“I don’t want to hear about the midterms,” Bannon said. “I don’t want to hear about 2028. … We are going to win. We’re going to hold the House and hold the Senate.”
For the first time in a decade, President Donald Trump did not appear at CPAC. Bannon said he was tied up running the war in Iran.
He also mentioned that U.S. Sen. John Cornyn didn’t come to CPAC because “he doesn’t think you’re important enough to talk to.” The crowd booed in response but cheered when Bannon mentioned Paxton.
One of the biggest roars from the ballroom audience came when Bannon said the 2020 election was stolen from Trump.
Solution to Islamic invasion is deportation, panelist says
12:04 p.m. A panel at the Conservative Political Action Conference discussed the threat of an Islamic takeover in Texas and the nation, saying all Muslims should be deported.
Moderator and media personality Carl Higbie said Islam is being masked as a religion, but it is a dangerous ideology. Bo French, a Texas railroad commission candidate, said the solution is to send them all home.
Bo French, a candidate for Texas railroad commissioner, joined a panel of speakers to discuss the threat of Islam in Texas. Eleanor Dearman edearman@star-telegram.com Gov. Greg Abbott welcomes CPAC attendees to Texas
12:24 p.m. Gov. Greg Abbott celebrated conservative wins in the Lone Star State, as he welcomed CPAC attendees to Texas on Friday.
The Republican governor was joined by Sen. Bryan Hughes, a Mineola Republican, who acted as a moderator of sorts for the 15-minute conversation that touched on public safety, “radical Islam,” border security, school choice and the U.S. Senate race.
Abbott, who is campaigning for reelection, spoke to the importance of “keeping Texas Texas.”
Texas is well known for “cowboys and capitalism” but “the encroachment of socialism on our policies” is seeping into the state’s largest cities, Abbott said.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and state Sen. Bryan Hughes speak at CPAC in Grapevine on March 27. Rachel Royster
He touted Texas policies related to bail, police funding, school vouchers, border security and policies related to EPIC city, an Islamic community that’s proposed northeast of Dallas.
Abbott didn’t say which U.S. Senate candidate he prefers between U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. The Republicans are in a May runoff for the statewide seat.
Abbott did, however, condemn the Democratic nominee, state Rep. James Talarico.
“We are not going to allow the Talarico takeover of the state of Texas,” Abbott said.
Charlie Kirk remembered at CPAC in Grapevine
11:17 a.m. CPAC took time to remember activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated on a Utah college campus in September 2025.
“It never leaves your thoughts for a second when someone is ripped from you like that,” said Jack Posobiec, the host of Human Events Daily, who called for justice for Kirk’s family during remarks from the main stage Friday.
Posobiec said he’s “sick” of people using Kirk’s legacy to push their agendas. He said Kirk’s legacy should be focused on faith, family and freedom.
“When we think about Charlie’s legacy, I would encourage everyone to maintain that interest in staying united, keeping the coalition together,” Posobiec said. “But if you want to do something in your daily lives, something that Carlie always did, pick up the Bible every single day.”
Mike Lindell, CEO of MyPillow, is running for Governor of Minnesota in November 2026 and garnered the CPAC endorsement. Rachel Royster rroyster@star-telegram.com MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell takes the stage
10:08 a.m. The CEO of MyPillow Mike Lindell was among the CPAC’s Friday morning speakers.
Lindell’s brief remarks were part of a candidate roundup, where political candidates from across the country made their election pitches to CPAC attendees and those viewing from afar. Many of the candidates on stage also received an endorsement from President Donald Trump.
Lindell, a candidate for Minnesota governor, was welcomed with cheers. He’s in an Aug. 11 Republican primary.
Lindell bragged of spending millions to combat election fraud. He said he needs CPAC to help get the word out about his gubernatorial bid.
“We will get the word out, and I have a path to win Minnesota,” Lindell said.
Brendan Herrera, a Republican nicknamed “The AK Guy” who is running for Texas’ 23rd Congressional District, also spoke. The district covers much of the Texas-Mexico border.
Incumbent Republican Tony Gonzales dropped out of the race following reports that he had an affair with an aide who died by suicide.
“Anybody who tells you that Texas isn’t energized, they are crazy,” he said. “We are doing some house cleaning this cycle. We are getting rid of the RINOs who have been representing Texas for too long.”
This story was originally published March 27, 2026 at 9:18 AM.
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Rachel Royster is a news and government reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, specifically focused on Tarrant County. She joined the newsroom after interning at the Austin American-Statesman, the Waco Tribune-Herald and Capital Community News in DC. A Houston native and Baylor grad, Rachel enjoys traveling, reading and being outside. She welcomes any and all news tips to her email.
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Eleanor (Elly) Dearman is a Texas politics and government reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She’s based in Austin, covering the Legislature and its impact on North Texas. She grew up in Denton and has been a reporter for more than six years.
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