By: Tadi Abedje

West appeared at Sojourn Church, of which he’s been a member since November 2020, yesterday to make his announcement on his bid for the 2022 election. The significance of his announcement was that it occurred on July 4, which was the 154th anniversary of the Republican Party of Texas created by 150 Black men in Houston. 

In his first campaign pitch during the Sojourner Church service livestream video, he decided that he could no longer be on the sidelines on the issues in his home state, such as border control and human trafficking. 

“It is our time to stand up and honor those words of ‘Texas, Our Texas’ and to secure the future for our children and our grandchildren. To make sure that the growth, the opportunity and the prosperity, the economic success that you see here in Texas continues on. This is our moment in time,” said the former lieutenant colonel. “You’ve asked me to come back in the service for God, for Country and for Texas for a time such as this.” 

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A month ago, West made the announcement that he would step down as the Texas GOP chairman. That led to rumors that he would run for governor of the state. 

He hasn’t been in political office in almost a decade. West was a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 2008 to 2012. Previously, West served in the U.S. army for 22 years and is currently in the Texas Coast Guard. During his time in service, he was awarded with the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal and Army Achievement Medal.