Second Night of the Republican National Convention: Greg Abbott Says Democrats Will Be "Demolished" in the Midterms

Tano Tijerina, a former Webb County judge and candidate for the U.S. House in Texas’ 28th Congressional District, said during his remarks at the event that although he was once a Democrat, he decided to switch to the Republican Party because of Democratic policies at the southern border. “I didn't leave the Democratic Party. The party left me,” Tijerina said. He is challenging Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar and described himself as a conservative South Texas cowboy.

“I'm a beef-eating, gun-slinging, I'm a truck-driving, I'm a bible-thumping, Jesus-loving, callused-handed cowboy that's going to fight like hell for South Texas,” Tijerina said, drawing strong applause from the crowd.

House Speaker Mike Johnson suggested during his speech at the event that Trump could run for the House of Representatives once his term as president ends, citing former President John Quincy Adams as an example.

In addition to calling for maximum support for the party in the midterm elections, Johnson promised convention attendees that, if they were in Washington, he would take them to see a plaque honoring Adams, who returned to the House after serving as the nation's sixth president.

"Perhaps our current president will do that," said Johnson, who then noted that such a scenario might not occur by clarifying that Trump would likely "be too busy" to take on that role after two terms in the White House.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott asserted in his speech at the event that Republicans "will demolish the Democrats", while rallying his supporters around border security, public safety, and conservative policies. "We're going to keep Texas red, and we'll help President Trump keep America great," Abbott said, prompting chants of "Abbott, Abbott!" from the crowd.

Addressing national security, Abbott said that Texas had designated the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as foreign terrorist organizations. "And we're not waiting for Washington, D.C.; we will completely ban Sharia law in Texas," Abbott stated.

His remarks echoed comments previously made by Cruz, who claimed that Democrats have become communists and Islamists.

In one of the event's most emotional moments, Lucas Miles, vice president of the conservative organization Turning Point, led a tribute to Charlie Kirk one year after his death, with the audience responding with thunderous applause. "A voice can be silenced, but the truth cannot. A man can be removed from his position, but if he dedicated his life to inspiring courage in others, his absence may achieve precisely what his enemies sought to prevent," said Miles, who assured the audience that "Turning Point is not dead" and that "the organization Charlie founded continues to grow."

Several speakers also mentioned Kirk, including New Mexico House of Representatives candidate Greg Cunningham, who said that Kirk was the one who inspired him to run for public office.

Texas Senator Ted Cruz accused the Democratic Party of being a coalition of communists and Islamists, stating during his convention speech that the party "hates Christians, hates Jews, hates the Constitution, and hates the United States." Cruz also warned against Islamic law, declaring: "Sharia law has no place in the United States. Sharia law is fundamentally incompatible with the Constitution, and we must stop it now."

The senator asserted that Democrats outside the party's most progressive wing support progressive candidates because they generate money and enthusiasm. Cruz concluded with a call to action: "Together, arm in arm, we must save the United States."