AUSTIN, Texas — On December 8, 2025, Governor Greg Abbott and Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick stood alongside Turning Point USA (TPUSA) senior director Josh Thifault at the Governor’s Mansion to announce an ambitious goal: make Texas the undisputed national leader in TPUSA high school chapters and work toward having a chapter on every high school campus in the state.
Texas already has more than 500 “Club America” chapters — TPUSA’s official name for its high school programs — far more than any other state. Lt. Gov. Patrick pledged $1 million from his campaign funds to help create even more. Both leaders framed the effort as a moral and cultural mission rather than a purely political one, repeatedly comparing Club America to longstanding groups like the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA).
“This is about values. This is about constitutional principles, this is about a restoration of who we are as a country,” Governor Abbott said when asked about the organization’s conservative reputation. He noted that he himself had been a member of FCA at Duncanville High School decades ago and insisted that schools have long allowed student groups focused on faith and traditional values.
The announcement carried a clear warning to school districts: any administrator who blocks students from starting a Club America chapter should be reported to the Texas Education Agency (TEA), and the state will take “meaningful disciplinary action.” When pressed on whether any Texas schools have actually refused to allow such chapters, neither Abbott nor Education Commissioner Mike Morath could point to specific cases.
The push comes three months after TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk was assassinated in September 2025 while speaking at a college event in Utah. Abbott and Patrick both paid tribute to Kirk, saying his death has only strengthened the organization’s message of “freedom, liberty, and faith.” Patrick shared that his own grandson joined a chapter after Kirk’s death and quickly felt a sense of belonging.
Critics quickly pointed out what they see as inconsistency. Texas recently passed Senate Bill 12, which places new restrictions on certain identity-based student organizations, particularly those focused on LGBTQ+ issues. Rachel White, an associate professor of educational leadership and policy at the University of Texas at Austin, noted that public schools receiving federal funds are already prohibited from discriminating against student clubs based on their religious or political viewpoint — a protection established decades ago by federal law and Supreme Court precedent.
“Honestly, this effort to have Club America in every high school is of the same vein [as restricting other groups],” White said. “And so, this really is textbook diversity, equity, and inclusion work — just for one side.”
Governor Abbott acknowledged that progressive or left-leaning student clubs are legally allowed in Texas schools but made clear he would never personally endorse or promote them the way he is promoting TPUSA.
Club America chapters typically meet twice a month, set up information tables, bring in conservative speakers, and host activities built around themes such as patriotism, fiscal responsibility, or traditional values. Supporters say the rapid growth — including reports of chapters adding dozens or even hundreds of members after Kirk’s death — shows that many teenagers are hungry for the message.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced a similar partnership with TPUSA in October, but Texas leaders say the Lone Star State’s size, existing network of chapters, and new financial commitment will keep it in first place.
Whether the campaign succeeds in placing a chapter in every one of Texas’s roughly 1,700 public high schools remains to be seen, but Abbott and Patrick have made clear they intend to use the full weight of state government to remove any obstacles that stand in the way.