Texas Delegates Among Opposition As RNC Shuts Down Effort to Block Trump

^{Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional comment.}

CLEVELAND — Over shouts of protest from delegates, including some from Texas, the Republican National Convention on Monday approved the rules of this year's convention, blocking an effort by some delegates to upend Donald Trump's presidential nomination.

It was a critical moment for anti-Trump forces, who claimed 11 delegations had submitted petitions to force a vote over the rules in last-ditch bid to derail Trump's nomination. But after two voice votes in which the ayes were said to have it, U.S. Rep. Steve Womack of Arkansas informed the convention that only nine states had turned in the necessary signatures and three withdrew, leaving Trump critics one delegation short of the seven they needed to force a rules vote.

The vote sparked a chaotic scene here inside the the Quickens Loans Arena, where some members of the Texas delegation could be seen contributing to the chants of "Roll call vote!" that broke out across the floor. Shortly before the vote, an anti-Trump organizer said roughly 70 members of the Texas delegation — several short of a needed majority — had signed on to the effort to force a rules vote.

As the convention went into recess Monday evening, at least one delegate from Texas expressed lingering dissatisfaction with how party leaders handled anti-Trump efforts.

"RNC scammed us, further divided the party," said Grant Moody, a delegate from San Antonio. "Huge contingent of delegates frustrated and angry."

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, chairman of the Texas delegation in Gov. Greg Abbott's absence, originally backed U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas in the presidential race but has been an outspoken supporter of Trump's candidacy since Cruz suspended his campaign. On Monday morning, Patrick said he did not support efforts to derail Trump's nomination. 

"It is not my position ... [to] challenge the rules or challenge this convention, make it look like Texas is trying to undermine our nominee," Patrick told delegates at their daily breakfast. 

Earlier in his remarks, Patrick seemed to gauge support for forcing the rules vote, asking, "I don’t think we want to lead that fight here in the Texas delegation, do we?” He received mild applause and scattered shouts of "No!" 

After the votes, Patrick confirmed that Texas was not among the states that submitted a petition to force a rules vote. If there had been a floor debate, he said, he would have motioned to let Texas delegates speak.

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