Hard Hitting Conservative Commentary by Gary M. Polland
Volume XXIV Number 11 – September 17, 2025
CHARLIE KIRK PRAYER VIGIL HELD IN HOUSTON SUNDAY NIGHT
By Marc Cowart
Managing Editor
A candlelight prayer vigil was held on Sunday, September 15, 2025, at 7 p.m. in Houston’s Discovery Green Park to honor the life of fallen conservative icon Charlie Kirk.
The event was organized by Charlie Kirk’s friend Richard Vega.
It was part memorial, part political rally, and part church service, but it was 100% electric.
Flags and MAGA hats adorned the sea of humanity.
The crowd of over 1,000 was diverse and crossed racial and ethnic lines. Black, white, Latino and Asian stood next to each other celebrating a conservative icon who was taken too young. Young and old found common ground around this amazing young man’s memory and spirit.
There was a large police presence, but, in hindsight, unnecessary. The hateful left did not show up. There were no protesters. No violence. And this crowd was there to show love, not hate. There were no calls for anarchy or retaliation. No looting or burning. The left and the right behave differently in times of tragedy, for sure.
Richard Vega spoke with the fire and conviction of an evangelist, which is no surprise as he is a Community Pastor with Community Transformation Church and serves as a Chaplain for the Harris County Precinct 2 Constable’s Office. Near the end of the event, Vega made an alter call, inviting attendees to come to the stage to give their life to Jesus. Many accepted.
Vega is also a candidate for Harris County Commissioner, Precinct 2 running in the March 3, 2026, Republican Primary election for the chance to face-off with Democrat Adrian Garcia. But Vega’s candidacy was not the point of the event. In fact, he mentioned it only once, near the end, with a message to get involved and challenge the left. No, the point of Sunday night’s event was to honor Charlie, which it did magnificently.
The fires of Charlie’s mission and faith were stoked until white hot. Young and old were inspired and more importantly, called to action. The memory of this martyr will ignite action that will echo across this world and into the next. The hateful left will forever regret the fateful and tragic day that this movement met its turning point, and a sleeping giant was awakened.
Charlie is gone. But we are still here to carry on his work. We are Charlie.
MORE VIGILS AND EVENTS
SEPTEMBER 17, 2025
BEACH CITY PRAYER VIGIL FOR CHARLIE KIRK
- Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.
- McCollum Park, Beach City, TX 77523
- SEPTEMBER 17, 2025
SEPTEMBER 18, 2025
KENDALL COUNTY REPUBLICAN WOMEN “CHARLIE KIRK: CELEBRATION OF LIFE”
- September 18, 2025 at 6:45 p.m.
- Boerne Main Plaza, Boerne, Tx
SEPTEMBER 18, 2025
FORT BEND COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY CANDLELIGHT VIGIL
- Thursday, September 18, 2025 at 7:00 pm
- Sugar Land Town Square, 15958 City Walk, Sugar Land, TX 77479
SEPTEMBER 19, 2025
CHARLIE KIRK TRIBUTE AT 2025 TEXAS YOUTH SUMMIT
- Friday, September 19th @ 6PM
- The Woodlands Waterway Marriott
- Texasyouthsummit.com/events
SEPTEMBER 20, 2025
FORT WORTH MARCH AND RALLY TO HONOR CHARLIE KIRK
- Saturday, September 20 at 5:30 p.m.
- JFK Memorial at 916 Main Street, Fort Worth, TX
SEPTEMBER 21, 2025
PUBLIC MEMORIAL SERVICE
- September 21, 2025 at 11:00 a.m.
- Details at www.fightforcharlie.com
ERIKA KIRK DELIVERS EMOTIONAL REMARKS
FOLLOWING CHARLIE KIRK’S DEATH
On Friday, Erika Kirk made her first public statement since her husband’s murder on the campus of Utah Valley University on Wednesday, September 10, 2025.
In the statement she said his mission will become “stronger, bolder, louder and greater than ever…”
“The movement my husband built will not die.”
– Erika Kirk
Campaign and Political Newswire
Please submit your story ideas, news and press releases to [email protected]
LINA HIDALGO ANNOUNCES SHE
WILL NOT RUN FOR RE-ELECTION!
After serving two terms in office, besieged Democrat Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced that she will not seek re-election in 2026.
HARRIS COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
On Monday night, the Harris County Republican Party held its quarterly Executive Committee meeting at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Baytown. Hundreds of Republicans showed up for the meeting in remote Baytown to conduct GOP business. Ahead of the meeting, Republican judicial candidates collected signatures for their nominating petitions at an event organized by the HCRP and Judicial Screening Chairman S.J. Swanson. To contact S.J. about future judicial events or for information about running for judge, email [email protected].
In addition to the precinct chairs, party officials, judicial candidates (collecting signatures) and guests, many non-judicial Republican candidates were in also attendance including (partial list from memory. Apologies for anyone who I forgot/missed):
- State Representative Briscoe Cain, running for US Representative District 9
- Carmen Maria Montiel, running for US Representative, District 18 (special election)
- State Representative Valoree Swanson running for re-election to HD 150
- Former Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart, running for HD 126
- Former Harris County Trustee Michael Wolfe, running for HD 128
- CCISD Trustee Scott Bowen, running for HD 129
- Tom Butler, running for HD 128
- Tiffany Nelson, running for State Board of Education, District 6
- Orlando Sanchez (Former County Treasurer), for Harris County Judge
- Mayor Aliza Fan Dutt, running for Harris County Judge
- Warren Howell, running for County Judge
- Oscar Gonzales, running for Harris County Judge
- Commissioner Steve Radack, running for Commissioner, Precinct 4
- Richard Vega, running for Commissioner Precinct 2
- Marc Cowart, running for Harris County Treasurer
- Michelle Bouchard, running for Harris County Republican Party Chairman
- Sonia Rivera running for Houston City Council At-Large 4 (special election)
One of the first orders of business was to consider a resolution entitled, “Resolution Honoring Charles James Kirk”. The Resolution passed unanimously, as expected.
Other Resolutions that passed included one to Return Harris County to Precinct Voting, one in favor of “Returning to the Roots of the Republican Party” a Resolution in Opposition to the H-1B Visa Program and one in support of Propositions 2, 12, 15, and 16 in November’s Constitutional Amendment election.
The HCRP also voted to endorse Sonia Rivera for Houston City Council, At-Large 4 in November’s special election to fill the seat vacated by Letitia Plummer’s resignation to run for Harris County Judge in the March 2026 Democrat Primary election.
TWO CONGRESSIONAL SEATS TO CHANGE HANDS
Congressman Morgan Luttrell (TX-8) and Congressman Michael McCaul (TX-10) have both announced that they will not seek re-election to the United States House of Representatives. In District 8, Jessica Hart Steinmann is seeking to succeed Congressman Morgan Luttrell, but no one has announced for District 10, yet, though the seat will likely attract several to numerous candidates by the time the December filing deadline rolls around.
SAM HARLESS TO RETIRE FROM THE TEXAS HOUSE
After serving eight years in the Texas House representing District 126, State Representative Sam Harless has decided to retire and not seek re-election. Sam’s wife Patricia Fincher Harless, held the seat for ten years from 2007-2017. So far, two candidates have emerged to run for the District 126 seat. The first is Kelly Griffin Peterson who has served Sam Harless as his District Director for the past three years and the other is former Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart.
TEXAS YOUTH SUMMIT 2025 GETS NEW BIG GUEST SPEAKER!
Christian Collins, founder of the Texas Youth Summit, announced that Governor Greg Abbott has joined the lineup at the 2025 Texas Youth Summit being held this Friday and Saturday, September 19-20. Friday will feature a tribute to Turning Point USA’s Charlie Kirk who was murdered on September 10. Tickets: texasyouthsummit.com/events
EVENTS CALENDAR
September 16 | 7:00 p.m. Cherry Tree Republicans, Mamacita’s Restaurant, 19831 Northwest Freeway
September 18 | 6:30 p.m. San Jacinto Conservatives HQ Opening
September 19 | 6:00 p.m. Texas Youth Summit
September 20 | 7:00 a.m. Texas Youth Summit
September 22 | 5:30 p.m. Dennis Paul for State Senate Fundraiser with Lt. Governor Dan Patrick
To submit an event please email [email protected]
ELECTION CALENDAR
November 4, 2025: General Election (CD 18 and SD 9 for example)
January 1, 2025: First day to apply for a ballot by mail for any 2025 election
July 19, 2025: First day to file for a place on the November 4, 2025 General Election
August 18, 2025: Last day to file for a place on the November 4, 2025 General Election
October 6, 2025: Last day to register to vote in the November 4, 2025 General Election
October 20, 2025: First day of Early Voting for the November 4, 2025 General Election
October 31, 2025: Last day of Early Voting for the November 4, 2025 General Election
November 4, 2025: Election Day
March 3, 2026: Primary Election
January 1, 2026: First day to apply for a ballot by mail for any 2026 election
September 9, 2025: First day to file for Precinct Chairman for the March 3, 2026 Primary Election
November 8, 2025: First day to file for all other offices for the March 3, 2026 Primary Election
December 8, 2025: Last day to file for a place on the ballot for the March 3, 2026 Primary Election
February 2, 2025: Last day to register to vote in the March 3, 2026 Primary Election
February 17, 2026: First day of Early Voting for the March 3, 2026 Primary Election
February 20, 2026: Last day to apply for a ballot by mail for the March 3, 2026 Primary Election
February 27, 2026: Last day of Early Voting for the March 3, 2026 Primary Election
March 3, 2026: Election Day
May 26, 2026: Primary Runoff Election
April 27, 2026: Last day to register to vote in the May 2, 2026 Primary Runoff Election
May 15, 2026: Last day to apply for a ballot by mail for the May 26, 2026 Primary Runoff Election
May 18, 2026: First day of Early Voting for the May 26, 2026 Primary Runoff Election
May 22, 2026: Last day of Early Voting for the May 26, 2026 Primary Runoff Election
May 26, 2026: Election Day for the 2026 Primary Runoff Election
For information on becoming a candidate on the Republican Primary Election Ballot, visit https://www.harriscountygop.com/run-for-office/
ADVERTISE HERE!
To advertise online or in a printed edition of the Texas Conservative Review, please contact Marc Cowart at 832-282-2175 or email [email protected]
ADDITIONS, CORRECTIONS OR FEEDBACK?
E-mail Marc Cowart at [email protected]
NEWSLETTER SPONSORS
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ABOUT YOUR EDITOR
Gary Polland is a long-time conservative and Republican spokesman, fund-raiser, and leader who served three terms as the Harris County Republican Chairman. During his three terms, Gary was described as “the most successful county Chairman in America” by Human Events – The National Conservative Weekly. He is in his twenty-eighth year of editing a newsletter dealing with key conservative and Republican issues. For the last twenty-three years, he has edited the Texas Conservative Review. As a public service for the previous 20 years, Gary has published election guides for the GOP primary, general elections, and city elections, all to assist conservative candidates. Gary also for 20 years cohosted Red, White and Blue on Houston Public Media TV 8 PBS Houston, longest running political talk show in Texas history and for the last four-plus years Gary has been a regular commentator on Fox 26-Houston’s “What’s Your Point” airing Sunday’s at 7 a.m. Gary serves on the Board of Directors of American Values, a national pro-family, pro-faith, conservative organization supporting the unity of the American people around the vision of our founding fathers and dedicated to reminding the public of the conservative principles fundamental to the survival of our nation. Gary is a practicing attorney and strategic consultant. He can be reached at (713) 621-6335.
