The Nation - News from June 30, 1986

Religious conservatives failed to take over the leadership of the Texas Republican Party as its moderate chairman won reelection in Dallas. Diana Denman, the state GOP vice chairwoman backed by the conservative bloc, said she pulled out of the chairman’s race just before voting began Saturday night because it appeared she would lose to incumbent George Strake. She went on to win reelection as vice chairman, defeating Kay Danks in a vote of 2,367 to 2,300. The ballot for chairman, which followed a boisterous debate over rules and procedures, gave Strake 3,882 votes and Austin minister Sam Hoerster 744 votes. After the vote, Strake praised the conservatives, saying they bring a concern about moral issues to the party.