Young Conservatives of Texas
Encyclopedia
Young Conservatives of Texas (YCT) is a nonpartisan conservative youth organization based in Texas
. YCT was founded in 1980 and now has chapters at six universities including Stephen F. Austin State University
, Texas Tech University
, University of Texas at Austin
, and Baylor University
.
A total of 177 delegates attended the first convention. YCT advocates for very conservative political goals in the state of Texas and the whole of the United States
.
(YAF) in 1980.
The Texas chapter of YAF, led by student activist Steve Munisteri
, broke off after a dispute with the national organization. The Young Conservatives of Texas was founded on March 2, 1980, (Texas Independence Day) in Austin. There was a convention held that day wherein Congressman Bill Archer, Ernest Angelo
(former Mayor of Midland and former National Committeeman), and many others spoke at a gathering to launch the group. A total of 177 persons attended part or all of the convention. At the conclusion of the convention, it was decided that the Young Conservatives of Texas would be founded.
Nativity scene
, Affirmative Action
Bakesales, Catch an Illegal Immigrant, and protesting Ted Kennedy's reception of the George Bush Award for Excellence in Public Service. The Texas A&M YCT chapter has also conducted mock wedding ceremonies with things such as bicycles, books, and animals to protest against gay marriage.
. Based on these interviews, YCT offers its official endorsement of the candidate in each race who it believes to be the most conservative. Members then campaign for the endorsed candidates in their respective races.
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. YCT was founded in 1980 and now has chapters at six universities including Stephen F. Austin State University
Stephen F. Austin State University
Stephen F. Austin State University is a public university located in Nacogdoches, Texas, United States. Founded as a teachers' college in 1923, the university was named after one of Texas' founding fathers, Stephen F. Austin. Its campus resides on part of the homestead of another Texas founding...
, Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
, University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
, and Baylor University
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
.
A total of 177 delegates attended the first convention. YCT advocates for very conservative political goals in the state of Texas and the whole of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
History
Young Conservatives of Texas was formed by a faction that split off from Young Americans for FreedomYoung Americans for Freedom
Young Americans for Freedom is a 501 non-profit organization and is now a project of Young America's Foundation. YAF is an ideologically conservative youth activism organization that was founded in 1960, as a coalition between traditional conservatives and libertarians...
(YAF) in 1980.
The Texas chapter of YAF, led by student activist Steve Munisteri
Steve Munisteri
Stephen Peter Munisteri is a retired attorney from Houston, Texas, who was elected chairman of the Republican Party of Texas at the state convention held in Dallas on June 13, 2010. He unseated the incumbent Cathie L. Adams, the wife of a Dallas chiropractor, who had held the position for only...
, broke off after a dispute with the national organization. The Young Conservatives of Texas was founded on March 2, 1980, (Texas Independence Day) in Austin. There was a convention held that day wherein Congressman Bill Archer, Ernest Angelo
Ernest Angelo
Ernest Angelo, Jr., known as Ernie Angelo , is a Texas oilman and Republican politician who served from 1972–1980 as mayor of the West Texas city of Midland and was in 1976 the co-manager of the Ronald W...
(former Mayor of Midland and former National Committeeman), and many others spoke at a gathering to launch the group. A total of 177 persons attended part or all of the convention. At the conclusion of the convention, it was decided that the Young Conservatives of Texas would be founded.
Brief chronology
A few selected events from the YCT history:- March 2, 1980: Young Conservatives of Texas founded.
- 1981: YCT founder Steve MunisteriSteve MunisteriStephen Peter Munisteri is a retired attorney from Houston, Texas, who was elected chairman of the Republican Party of Texas at the state convention held in Dallas on June 13, 2010. He unseated the incumbent Cathie L. Adams, the wife of a Dallas chiropractor, who had held the position for only...
creates the Texas Conservative Victory Fund to support conservative candidates statewide. - 1984: YCT hosts a "whistle stop tour" for President Ronald ReaganRonald ReaganRonald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
. - 1986: UT Chapter Chairman Patrick O'Daniel and Executive Director Horace Cooper take over the UT College Republicans. Cooper is elected CR President and proceeds to not hold a chapter meeting all year long, thus allowing O'Daniel to recruit all the Republicans into YCT.
- 1991: On January 16, the Gulf War begins. On January 17, YCT holds a victory rally on the West Mall of the UT campus. UT YCT Chairman Edwin Sullivan and Vice Chairmen Andrew Panos (later State Chairman) and Cory Birenbaum coordinated the effort, which drew well over a thousand people, and was covered extensively throughout the State of Texas.
- 1994: Former YCT State Chairman Steve StockmanSteve StockmanSteve Stockman is a Republican politician who represented Texas's 9th Congressional District between 1995 and 1997.- Biography :Stockman was born in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, near Detroit. He graduated from Dondero High School....
elected to US Congress as part of Newt Gingrich's Contract with AmericaContract with AmericaThe Contract with America was a document released by the United States Republican Party during the 1994 Congressional election campaign. Written by Larry Hunter, who was aided by Newt Gingrich, Robert Walker, Richard Armey, Bill Paxon, Tom DeLay, John Boehner and Jim Nussle, and in part using text...
. - 1994: YCT delegates to the Republican Party of TexasRepublican Party of TexasThe Republican Party of Texas is one of the two major political parties in the U.S. State of Texas. It is affiliated with the United States Republican Party. The State Chairman is Steve Munisteri, a retired attorney and businessman from Houston, and the Vice-Chair is Melinda Fredricks of Conroe....
convention help elect conservative Tom Pauken as Republican Party State Chairman. Pauken won by fewer than 10 votes; YCT had over 25 delegates to the convention. - 2000: YCT celebrates 20th anniversary.
- 2001: The event that never happened. Janet RenoJanet RenoJanet Wood Reno is a former Attorney General of the United States . She was nominated by President Bill Clinton on February 11, 1993, and confirmed on March 11...
was scheduled to speak at Baylor UniversityBaylor UniversityBaylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
on September 13, 2001. David Rushing and Steve Watson coordinated with the Branch Davidians to protest Janet Reno. The event was cancelled due to the September 11 attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C. - 2002: Republicans win control of the Texas House of Representatives for the first time since 1876. YCT Board of Advisors member Tom Craddick is elected Speaker of the House.
- 2003: UT Chapter Chairman Austin Kinghorn releases the first Professor Watch List detailing criticisms of UT professors who allegedly use their classrooms as a platform for their personal ideologies. State Chairman David Rushing appears on Good Morning AmericaGood Morning AmericaGood Morning America is an American morning news and talk show that is broadcast on the ABC television network; it debuted on November 3, 1975. The weekday program airs for two hours; a third hour aired between 2007 and 2008 exclusively on ABC News Now...
after an Affirmative Action Bake Sale was cancelled by the SMU administrators. The Texas A&M chapter protests US Senator Ted KennedyTed KennedyEdward Moore "Ted" Kennedy was a United States Senator from Massachusetts and a member of the Democratic Party. Serving almost 47 years, he was the second most senior member of the Senate when he died and is the fourth-longest-serving senator in United States history...
on Campus. - 2005: YCT celebrates 25 years of function. UNT chapter holds a Capture an Illegal Immigrant event on campus that gains statewide attention and begins to spark a debate on illegal immigration. The UT Austin chapter planned a mock "round up" of "illegal immigrants".
- 2006: YCT instrumental in Republican primary election in Texas House District 63, supporting Tan Parker, the eventual winner. State convention held in Richardson, featuring keynote address by Congressman Steve KingSteve KingSteven Arnold "Steve" King is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party.The district is located in the western part of the state and includes Sioux City and Council Bluffs....
(R-IA) on the need for immigration reform. Organization co-sponsors rally in Crawford, Texas supporting immigration reform. The UT Austin chapter held a bake sale opposing affirmative action. - 2007: Annual state convention held in Houston, keynote address by author and radio host Neal BoortzNeal BoortzNeal A. Boortz, Jr. is an American Libertarian radio host, author, and political commentator. His nationally syndicated talk show, The Neal Boortz Show, airs throughout the United States on Dial Global . It is ranked seventh in overall listeners, with 4.25+ million per week...
. Minuteman Civil Defense Corps founder Chris SimcoxChris SimcoxChris Simcox is the American co-founder of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps and the project's main spokesperson. He was formerly a kindergarten teacher at the Wildwood School in Los Angeles, California, where he taught for thirteen years....
hosted by YCT chapters at University of Texas-Austin, University of Texas at San Antonio, and Southern Methodist University. The UTSA event was shut down by hundreds of rowdy and violent protesters. The UT chapter hosts Dinesh D'Souza as a speaker to a standing room only packed event. UTSA welcomes back Chris Simcox to give the speech that was previously shut down. The UT Austin chapter has a nativity scene attacking same-sex marriage, religious freedom, and abortion rights and claiming that the ACLU supports terrorism, Leninism, Marxism, Stalinism, communism, and child pornography. - 2008: Senior Vice Chairman Laura Elizabeth Morales appears on CNN and ABC World News with Charles Gibson to discuss the presidential election and speaks on a panel at CPAC to encourage young activists. YCT hosts 28th Annual Convention in San Antonio, Texas, speakers included US Senator John Cornyn, Attorney General Greg Abbott and Lt. Col. Brian Birdwell. The Texas A&M chapter holds an "Anti-Obama Carnival", where eggs were thrown at the then-candidate's picture and YCT's interpretation of his stances.
- 2009: Governor Rick Perry and Former US Treasurer Bay Buchanan speak to the 29th Annual State Convention in Austin, Texas. The Texas Tech Chapter is awarded Chapter of the Year.
- 2009: Elizabeth Young becomes Chairman of the organization. She is the former Chairman of the UT Austin Chapter.
- 2009: YCT members from all across Texas gather in protest of U.S. President Barack ObamaBarack ObamaBarack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
when he arrived at Texas A&M to speak at the 20th anniversary of George H.W. Bush's Points of Light InstitutePoints of Light InstituteThe Points of Light Institute is a national nonprofit, nonpartisan organization in the United States of America dedicated to engaging more people and resources in solving serious social problems...
. - 2010: The Texas A&M chapter of YCT was expelled from the organization after its unconstitutional endorsement of Rob Curnock, a candidate for the congressional seat in District 17, and several other internal disputes.
- 2010: The Coby Pieper Award for Conservative Dedication, YCT's highest honor, is renamed to the Coby Pieper and Brianna Becker Award for Conservative Dedication, in honor of YCT members Pieper and Becker.
- 2010: 30th anniversary convention held in Austin, TX; Baylor University receives the Chapter of the Year distinction.
- 2010: YCT Founder Steve MunisteriSteve MunisteriStephen Peter Munisteri is a retired attorney from Houston, Texas, who was elected chairman of the Republican Party of Texas at the state convention held in Dallas on June 13, 2010. He unseated the incumbent Cathie L. Adams, the wife of a Dallas chiropractor, who had held the position for only...
is elected Republican Party of Texas Chairman after an aggressive campaign by YCT members and alumni. - 2010: State Chairman Elizabeth Young joins the GOPAC-TX Board.
List of State Chairmen
- Steve MunisteriSteve MunisteriStephen Peter Munisteri is a retired attorney from Houston, Texas, who was elected chairman of the Republican Party of Texas at the state convention held in Dallas on June 13, 2010. He unseated the incumbent Cathie L. Adams, the wife of a Dallas chiropractor, who had held the position for only...
: 1980 - Gary Nelson: 1981
- Greg Robertson: 1982
- Frank Reilly: 1982 - 1986
- Richard Munisteri: 1987
- Steve Stockman 1987-1988
- Paul Bartley: 1988 - 1989
- Sharin Shafer: 1990 - 1991
- Scott Gaille: 1991 - 1992
- Andy Panos: 1992 - 1993
- Shawn Roberts: 1993
- David Guenthner: 1994
- Robert Johnson: 1994 - 1996
- Robert Means: Spring 1996- 1997
- Fred Tate: 1997- January 1999
- Liz Farrell: Spring 1999
- Brent Tantillo: June 1999 - December 2000
- Chris Allen: January 2001 - March 2003
- David Rushing: April 2003 - February 2005
- Randy Samuelson: March 2005 - July 2006
- David White: August 2006 - September 2009
- Elizabeth (Young) White: September 2009 – November 2011
- Jeff Morris: November 2011 - Present
Protests and demonstrations
Some YCT chapters have garnered media attention from their often deliberately controversial protests. These demonstrations have included such events as the American Civil Liberties UnionAmerican Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
Nativity scene
Nativity scene
A nativity scene, manger scene, krippe, crèche, or crib, is a depiction of the birth of Jesus as described in the gospels of Matthew and Luke...
, Affirmative Action
Affirmative action
Affirmative action refers to policies that take factors including "race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or national origin" into consideration in order to benefit an underrepresented group, usually as a means to counter the effects of a history of discrimination.-Origins:The term...
Bakesales, Catch an Illegal Immigrant, and protesting Ted Kennedy's reception of the George Bush Award for Excellence in Public Service. The Texas A&M YCT chapter has also conducted mock wedding ceremonies with things such as bicycles, books, and animals to protest against gay marriage.
Endorsements and campaign
Each election cycle, members of YCT meet with candidates for office in the state of Texas to conduct interviews to determine that candidate's adherence to conservatismConservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
. Based on these interviews, YCT offers its official endorsement of the candidate in each race who it believes to be the most conservative. Members then campaign for the endorsed candidates in their respective races.
Rating the Texas Legislature
YCT has consistently rated the Texas legislature going back to the 1975 Legislative Session. In doing so, Young Conservatives of Texas has now compiled 30 years worth of ratings of the Texas Senate and Texas Legislature which track the ideological shift in Texas political parties over that time.YCT alumni in politics
YCT alumni can be found working in a number of political capacities, and several members and alumni have successfully run for public office. A partial list can be found below.- Will Hartnett, Texas State Representative
- Jeb HensarlingJeb HensarlingJeb Hensarling has been the Republican congressman representing Texas' 5th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives since 2003.-Early life:...
, U.S. Congressman - Bryan Hughes, Texas State Representative
- Tan ParkerTan ParkerTan Parker is a politician and businessman who currently serves in the Texas House of Representatives. He was elected as a Republican to represent District 63 in 2006....
, Texas State Representative - Harvey HilderbranHarvey HilderbranHarvey Ray Hilderbran is a Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 53, which includes fifteen central Texas counties. Hilderbran resides in Kerrville west of San Antonio.-Legislative matters:Rep...
, Texas State Representative - Dwayne Bohac, Texas State Representative
- Jodie Laubenburg, Texas State Representative
- Steve StockmanSteve StockmanSteve Stockman is a Republican politician who represented Texas's 9th Congressional District between 1995 and 1997.- Biography :Stockman was born in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, near Detroit. He graduated from Dondero High School....
, former U.S. Congressman - Rand PaulRand PaulRandal Howard "Rand" Paul is the junior United States Senator for Kentucky. He is a member of the Republican Party. A member of the Tea Party movement, he describes himself as a "constitutional conservative" and a libertarian...
, Kentucky U.S. Senator - Steve MunisteriSteve MunisteriStephen Peter Munisteri is a retired attorney from Houston, Texas, who was elected chairman of the Republican Party of Texas at the state convention held in Dallas on June 13, 2010. He unseated the incumbent Cathie L. Adams, the wife of a Dallas chiropractor, who had held the position for only...
, Republican Party of Texas Chairman