<\/p>\n
The Conservative Political Action Convention is being held at Grapevine\u2019s Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center from March 25 to March 28, 2026.<\/p>\n
Rachel Royster<\/p>\n
rroyster@star-telegram.com<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Other speakers include Mike Lindell of MyPillow and media personality Steve Bannon.<\/p>\n
Follow along for updates from the conference at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center in Grapevine.<\/p>\n
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at Reagan Dinner<\/p>\n
11:06 p.m. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton told a crowd at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Grapevine<\/a> that he\u2019s optimistic headed into his May runoff against longtime incumbent Sen. John Cornyn.<\/p>\n \u201cI promise you this,\u201d Paxton said. \u201cInstead of having a senator that represents Washington D.C., we\u2019re going to have a senator in Texas that represents Texas and the values of the Republican party.\u201d<\/p>\n Paxton was the keynote speaker at CPAC\u2019s Ronald Reagan dinner, a black-tie optional dinner hosted Friday night.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n His talking points were scattered across races in Virginia, Georgia and Texas but said the most important thing was to have the president\u2019s back.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t want to hear about the midterms,\u201d Bannon said. \u201cI don\u2019t want to hear about 2028. \u2026 We are going to win. We\u2019re going to hold the House and hold the Senate.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n He also mentioned that U.S. Sen. John Cornyn didn\u2019t come to CPAC because \u201che doesn\u2019t think you\u2019re important enough to talk to.\u201d The crowd booed in response but cheered when Bannon mentioned Paxton.<\/p>\n One of the biggest roars from the ballroom audience came when Bannon said the 2020 election was stolen from Trump.<\/p>\n Solution to Islamic invasion is deportation, panelist says<\/p>\n 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 12:24 p.m. Gov. Greg Abbott celebrated conservative wins<\/a> in the Lone Star State, as he welcomed CPAC attendees to Texas on Friday.<\/p>\n 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, \u201cradical Islam,\u201d border security, school choice and the U.S. Senate race.<\/p>\n Abbott, who is campaigning for reelection, spoke to the importance of \u201ckeeping Texas Texas.\u201d<\/p>\n Texas is well known for \u201ccowboys and capitalism\u201d but \u201cthe encroachment of socialism on our policies\u201d is seeping into the state\u2019s largest cities, Abbott said.<\/p>\n He touted Texas policies related to bail, police funding, school vouchers, border security and policies related to EPIC city, an Islamic community that\u2019s proposed northeast of Dallas.<\/p>\n Abbott didn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n Abbott did, however, condemn the Democratic nominee, state Rep. James Talarico.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are not going to allow the Talarico takeover of the state of Texas,\u201d Abbott said.<\/p>\n Charlie Kirk remembered at CPAC in Grapevine<\/p>\n 11:17 a.m. CPAC took time to remember activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated on a Utah college campus in September 2025.<\/p>\n \u201cIt never leaves your thoughts for a second when someone is ripped from you like that,\u201d said Jack Posobiec, the host of Human Events Daily, who called for justice for Kirk\u2019s family during remarks from the main stage Friday.<\/p>\n Posobiec said he\u2019s \u201csick\u201d of people using Kirk\u2019s legacy to push their agendas. He said Kirk\u2019s legacy should be focused on faith, family and freedom.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we think about Charlie\u2019s legacy, I would encourage everyone to maintain that interest in staying united, keeping the coalition together,\u201d Posobiec said. \u201cBut if you want to do something in your daily lives, something that Carlie always did, pick up the Bible every single day.\u201d<\/p>\n 10:08 a.m. The CEO of MyPillow Mike Lindell was among the CPAC\u2019s Friday morning speakers.<\/p>\n Lindell\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Lindell, a candidate for Minnesota governor, was welcomed with cheers. He\u2019s in an Aug. 11 Republican primary.<\/p>\n Lindell bragged of spending millions to combat election fraud. He said he needs CPAC to help get the word out about his gubernatorial bid.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will get the word out, and I have a path to win Minnesota,\u201d Lindell said.<\/p>\n Brendan Herrera, a Republican nicknamed \u201cThe AK Guy\u201d who is running for Texas\u2019 23rd Congressional District, also spoke. The district covers much of the Texas-Mexico border.<\/p>\n Incumbent Republican Tony Gonzales dropped out of the race<\/a> following reports that he had an affair with an aide who died by suicide.<\/p>\n \u201cAnybody who tells you that Texas isn\u2019t energized, they are crazy,\u201d he said. \u201cWe are doing some house cleaning this cycle. We are getting rid of the RINOs who have been representing Texas for too long.\u201d<\/p>\n This story was originally published March 27, 2026 at 9:18 AM.<\/p>\n Related Stories from Fort Worth Star-Telegram<\/p>\n Rachel Royster<\/a><\/p>\n Fort Worth Star-Telegram<\/p>\n 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.\n <\/p>\n Eleanor Dearman<\/a><\/p>\n Fort Worth Star-Telegram<\/p>\n Eleanor (Elly) Dearman is a Texas politics and government reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She\u2019s 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. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at CPAC on March 27. Eleanor Dearman Steve Bannon rallies CPAC attendees in support of Trump<\/p>\n
![\"Bo](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Image_20260327_105821_084.jpeg\" "\\"Image_20260327_105821_084.jpeg\\"")
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<\/p>\n Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and state Sen. Bryan Hughes speak at CPAC in Grapevine on March 27. Rachel Royster <\/p>\n
![\"Mike](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_3854.jpg\" "\\"IMG_3854.jpg\\"")
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<\/p>\n
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