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Recently, Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath held a meeting with Josh Thifault, a senior director at Turning Point USA, to discuss the potential establishment of chapters for the conservative youth organization in high schools across the state. This discussion took place just days before Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick pledged $1 million in campaign funds to support the initiative.
The meeting occurred on November 3 in Austin, as indicated by records acquired by The Texas Tribune. Thifault had previously reached out to Morath’s office to inquire when the commissioner would be available to discuss a partnership aimed at creating Turning Point USA chapters in Texas high schools, similar to efforts already underway in other states.
Following their meeting, Thifault sent an email to Morath with further details regarding the organization’s existing collaborations in Florida and Oklahoma. In his communication, Thifault noted that both states had issued strong warnings against any attempts to obstruct students from forming Club America chapters, which is the official name for these clubs.
It remains unclear whether Morath officially agreed to collaborate with Turning Point USA or what the next steps might be. When asked about the meeting and the potential partnership, Texas Education Agency spokesperson Jake Kobersky stated that Commissioner Morath engages with a variety of stakeholders interested in public education.
Attempts to gain insight from Thifault regarding the meeting were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to emails, phone calls, or text messages. Doug Deason, a conservative donor who was included in the scheduling emails, also did not reply to inquiries from The Tribune.
In light of the recent killing of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, who was both praised and criticized for his views on free speech and marginalized communities, interest in Turning Point USA among Republicans has intensified. The organization has reported receiving a surge of inquiries from students interested in starting local chapters, while claiming that they have faced challenges from school administrations.
Officials in Florida and Oklahoma have already announced their plans to establish Turning Point USA clubs in high schools. In Oklahoma, former education chief Ryan Walters stated that students would be responsible for initiating the clubs, with Turning Point USA providing organizational support. Both Walters and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis have warned of potential consequences for schools that do not recognize these youth clubs, including threats to their accreditation.
Just four days after Morath’s meeting with Thifault, Lt. Gov. Patrick expressed support for the establishment of Turning Point USA chapters in every Texas college and high school, noting that the state is home to over 1,200 public school districts and charters serving approximately 5.5 million students, as well as more than 200 colleges.
The Turning Point USA clubs promote ideals such as “American exceptionalism, the significance of constitutional rights, and the defense of freedom,” as stated on their website. Their mission includes building robust networks, spearheading impactful initiatives, facilitating student voter registration, and fostering meaningful discussions about the principles of a free society.
However, the organization’s activities on college campuses—such as a so-called professor watchlist targeting instructors perceived as promoting liberal views—have sparked controversy, with faculty members reporting harassment from conservative groups. Recently, petitions have emerged calling for the removal of Turning Point USA chapters from public schools, with some students and parents condemning the organization for what they label as “racist, homophobic, and sexist hate speech” on college campuses nationwide.
During a legislative hearing on November 12, Ricky Adam Jr., the Texas regional manager for Turning Point USA, informed lawmakers that he had heard from numerous students across the state eager to engage in respectful conversations with their peers about important issues. “We will put a Turning Point USA or Club America in every single high school in the state. You have my word,” Adam Jr. declared, hinting at a significant announcement on the horizon.
However, the specifics of this anticipated announcement remain unknown. Turning Point USA did not respond to requests for comment from The Tribune.
The meeting between Morath and Thifault followed the Texas education chief’s announcement that his agency would investigate numerous complaints against educators accused of making inappropriate remarks related to Kirk’s death. Legal experts and teacher advocacy groups have criticized this investigation as an infringement on educators’ free speech rights.
During a November 3 event at the University of Texas at Austin, Morath stated that no educators had yet faced disciplinary action concerning the complaints. “Some of those complaints are clearly individuals settling personal scores with others they dislike, and those cases will simply be closed,” he explained. “The ones we are pursuing from an enforcement standpoint are clear violations of the educator code of conduct.”
Zeph Capo, president of the Texas American Federation of Teachers, has expressed concern over Morath’s call for investigations into educators’ social media activities. Capo criticized Morath for politicizing the issue by targeting comments he personally disagrees with, instead of allowing school districts and the public to address any alleged misconduct.
Capo noted that Morath’s meeting with Turning Point USA raises further questions about the fairness of the investigations and the commissioner’s motivations. While he does not oppose the presence of conservative organizations at universities, Capo believes that groups with such a divisive political presence are not suitable for the K-12 educational environment.
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