Politics & Government

Abbott’s senior adviser warns Republicans not to let Texas flip

Steve Munisteri, Gov. Greg Abbott’s senior adviser and policy director, warned Tarrant County Republicans that if they don’t act, Texas will turn blue. He spoke at two Tarrant Republican club meetings on May 6, 2026.
Steve Munisteri, Gov. Greg Abbott’s senior adviser and policy director, warned Tarrant County Republicans that if they don’t act, Texas will turn blue. He spoke at two Tarrant Republican club meetings on May 6, 2026. rroyster@star-telegram.com

A senior adviser to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott warned two Tarrant County Republican clubs Wednesday of the possibility of Texas flipping if the party doesn’t act.

The same goes for Tarrant County, said Abbott’s adviser and policy director, Steve Munisteri.

Munisteri spoke to Tarrant Star Republican Women over lunch and the Cowtown Republican Women on Wednesday evening to discuss Texas’ political landscape and what’s at stake for Republicans.

The Houston native’s resume includes working for U.S. Senator John Cornyn and President Donald Trump. He was also the Chair of the Republican Party of Texas from 2010 to 2015.

Munisteri warned the evening crowd that Democrats are unified and fighting to flip the state while Republicans are scoffing at that notion without taking any meaningful action to prevent that reality.

He said Republicans need to remember that the differences they have with one another are much smaller than the differences they have with Democrats.

“And if you’ll put those aside, when the primary is over, and the state convention is over, and you unite, you can win, but if you don’t, and I told this story at lunch, you really can have this state turn democratic,” Munisteri said.

Republicans outweigh Democrats in Texas, but that doesn’t matter if they don’t turn out to vote, Munisteri told the group of roughly 30.

“Everyone in this room needs to sound the alarm and needs to give out the clarion call that we can win,” as long as Republicans unify, Munisteri said.

Rachel Royster
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
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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