[5] Travis County Republican Party leaders immediately wanted to remove Morrow because he would wear a court jester's hat to county party meetings, speculated on famous assassinations and conspiracy theories, and promoted his book on the Clintons he co-authored with Roger Stone.

Dickey was re-elected as the Travis County chair after Morrow was disqualified by filing to run for U.S. President against Donald Trump.

[8][9] After Morrow's removal, Dickey defeated, 62–26, the political consultant Brendan Steinhauser of Austin, who managed the successful John Cornyn Senate re-election campaign in 2014.

Dickey made it clear that Trump was not his original choice but that it was the duty of the Party Chair to support nominees elected by the voters.

[5] On May 20, 2017, Tom Mechler of Amarillo, Texas announced his resignation, citing time constraints and business and family matters.

Mechler's choice for party chair, Brenham, Texas wealth management executive Richard Scott "Rick" Figueroa,[10] immediately announced his candidacy.

[11][12] Matt Mackowiak of Austin was elected to finish the one year remaining in Dickey's unexpired term as Travis County Republican Party Chairman.

Dickey later mentioned Fort Worth, San Antonio, Dallas, and Houston as possible locations if the convention were hosted in Texas.

On July 8, 2020, contrary to prior statements, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner issued an order prohibiting the convention, scheduled for the following week.