Chairman George Disputes Claims of Financial Distress, Says Convention Will Turn a Profit
- State Republican Executive Committeewoman Christin Bentley emailed her colleagues, expressing concern that the Texas GOP convention faced a significant budget shortfall and that the Party’s financial condition had deteriorated in recent months.
- Incumbent Texas GOP State Chairman Abraham George disputed claims that the convention was in the red and said that it was projected to turn a profit
- The Texas GOP has used funds in its federal account – which is the only account the Party can use to engage in federal election activity and is subject to strict contribution limits – to pay some convention-related expenses, even though it is not required by law to do so.
A high-ranking official in the Republican Party of Texas has raised serious concerns about the Party’s financial condition heading into its State Convention this week. At the same time, the incumbent State Chairman pushed back, saying the convention is projected to turn a profit. The convention will convene on Thursday, June 11.
Christin Bentley, a member of the State Republican Executive Committee (SREC), emailed her colleagues on Tuesday to “make the full body aware of serious financial concerns” regarding the Party’s State Convention. Bentley serves on the SREC’s Officials Committee, which is tasked with the “transaction of business necessary between meetings of the SREC”, preparing the Party’s annual budget, and ratifying certain contracts.
In her email, Bentley stated that the Officials Committee has been “informed of an estimated convention budget shortfall of approximately $651,086, with concerns that the number may continue to grow as additional expenditures are incurred.” Bentley also wrote that the Officials Committee had been informed that the Party’s available funds had dwindled to $86,702, from $950,248 as of year-end 2025, and expressed concern over “the lack of timely access to financial information necessary for convention budgeting and oversight responsibilities.”
On Tuesday night, incumbent Republican Party of Texas Abraham George posted a written response on X disputing claims of a large shortfall for the convention, saying the convention was projected to turn a profit. George’s response did not address the claim that the Party had just $86,702 in available funds or Bentley’s request for detailed financial information.
Bentley’s letter and George’s response are available in full at the bottom of this article.
A review of campaign finance records by The Texas Voice shows that the Republican Party of Texas has used funds from its federal account to pay for some convention-related expenses, even though it is not required by law to do so.
Under Federal campaign finance law, the Party may only use funds in its federal account to engage in “Federal Election Activity”, such as activities to help Republicans running for Congress and the U.S. Senate. Donations to the Party’s federal account are capped at $10,000 per year for individuals.
Contributions to the Party’s state and corporate accounts are not subject to any limits.
According to the Federal Election Commission, “costs of a state or local political convention, meeting or conference” are not “Federal Election Activity” and therefore can be paid entirely from state funds. By using its federal account to pay expenses related to the convention, the Party is using funds that could otherwise be used in efforts to win races for Federal offices.
According to campaign finance reports filed by the Republican Party of Texas, the Party transferred $150,000 from its federal account to its state account “for cash flow purposes” on February 4, 2026. These funds helped the Party pay convention-related expenses from its state account.
On March 10, 2026, the Party paid Pixl Productions, a convention vendor, $68,654 from its federal account for “party event production services.” During April, the Texas GOP paid Cvent $46,741.54 for “party event management” and an additional $7,252.92 to Pixl Productions from its federal account.
The Texas GOP’s next federal campaign finance report, covering the month of May, is due by June 20.
George, who is running for re-election as State Chairman at the convention, is being challenged by current Party Vice-Chair D’Rinda Randall.
Notable supporters of George include Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and several Republican state legislators, including State Representatives Mitch Little, Wes Virdell, Andy Hopper, and Brent Money. Hopper’s wife, Amanda Hopper, is running for Vice-Chair on a ticket with George.
Randall has touted her support from prominent activists within the Party, including Republican National Committeeman Robin Armstrong, National Committeewoman Debbie Georgatos, and several current members of the State Republican Executive Committee. David Covey, a former SREC member who unsuccessfully challenged former Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan in the 2024 Republican Primary, is running for Vice-Chair alongside Randall.
Christin Bentley’s letter to the State Republican Executive Committee:
Members,
As a member of the Officials Committee, I believe it is important to make the full body aware of serious financial concerns and information that has been communicated to me over the last several days regarding Convention finances and operations.
My intent in sending this email to ensure that SREC members are not blindsided by potential financial issues that may affect the Party following Convention. These matters involve significant fiduciary responsibilities, and I believe transparency with the full body is necessary.
I also want to make clear that I am not alone among Officials in believing these concerns need to be communicated to the full SREC body.
Information shared with Officials includes the following concerns:
According to communications received from Party leadership involved in convention budgeting, current convention expenses are reportedly significantly exceeding revenues.
We have been informed of an estimated convention budget shortfall of approximately $651,086, with concerns that the number may continue to grow as additional expenditures are incurred.
We have also been informed that the Party’s current available cash position, excluding Primary account funds, was reported to be approximately $86,702, compared to approximately $950,248 at the end of 2025.
Based on the information currently available to Officials, the reported current cash position does not appear sufficient to cover the projected convention shortfall.
At this time, our Treasurer, the Officials Committee, and the Convention Committee have not been provided a full accounting of outstanding liabilities.
Concerns have also been raised regarding the lack of timely access to financial information necessary for convention budgeting and oversight responsibilities.
These concerns stem from financial information and calculations provided to inquiring members of the Officials Committee in recent days. I have attached the financial information provided to inquiring Officials members.
It is entirely possible that Chairman Abraham George has secured guarantees, commitments, or plans to address any potential deficit or cash flow concerns. However, if such arrangements exist, they have not been communicated to the Officials Committee or, to my knowledge, the broader SREC.
I also believe it is important to note that concerns and inquiries regarding Convention finances and liabilities were previously directed to Abraham George and Micah, but questions and concerns remain unresolved despite those inquiries.
Given the fiduciary obligations of the SREC and Party Officers, the lack of transparency surrounding these financial matters is itself concerning.
Additionally, elected Party officers and SREC members on the Convention Committee have expressed concerns regarding exclusion from convention communications, planning, financial oversight and limited access to financial records and reporting that would ordinarily be expected for officers tasked with financial responsibilities under the bylaws.
Again, my purpose here is not to speculate or accuse, but to ensure the full SREC is informed of concerns that have now been raised repeatedly and directly within the last few days by individuals involved in Party financial oversight and convention budgeting.
I believe the full SREC should promptly receive:
- a current balance sheet and cash position,
- updated convention revenue and expenditure projections,
- a full accounting of outstanding liabilities,
- and a clear explanation of the Party’s anticipated financial position following Convention.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
In liberty and God’s grace,
Christin Bentley M.S.
SD-1 State Republican Executive Committeewoman
Chair Sub-Committee Stop Sexualizing Texas Kids
Texas GOP Chairman Abraham George’s response:
Consultants always tell you not to respond to your critics and normally I follow that advice.
But just today a new attack was levied against us that is simply untrue. You can read this latest attack on a new campaign website created by some of my opponent’s strongest supporters.
The accusation made is that we have a “convention budget shortfall of approximately $651,086, with concerns that the number may continue to grow.”
Here are some important facts.
When you factor in the Party’s current bank balances of our State, federal and corporate accounts, plus the registration money that has yet to be transferred and a small amount of outstanding sponsorships, we have around $100,000 of uncovered convention expenses, nowhere near the amount being stated.
When you factor in the registrations that will be paid over the next couple of days, that budget shortfall will not only be covered but we will turn a profit.
This is how the math works every single convention, and I’m confident that all our bills will be covered and money will continue to be raised.
At the last convention we raised approximately $900,000 in direct convention sponsorships and fundraising. This year we currently have just over $1,300,000 and are continuing to raise more money every single day.
This race should remain focused on facts, and all sides must be honest with the delegates.
