MILWAUKEE — Among the nearly 2,500 delegates at the 2024 Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee, 161 are from Texas.
They include 15 delegates and 15 alternates from the five Congressional districts in Travis County, according to Andy Hogue, communications director for the Travis County Republican Party.
Hogue told KVUE on Monday that while some local delegates were nervous after the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump two days earlier in Pennsylvania, many were excited.
Those included three delegates from Austin who spoke with KVUE from Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on Monday.
Jonathan Saenz, a delegate from Austin and president of Texas Values, also attended the 2016 RNC in Cleveland.
“This is how we balance freedom, and we’re not gonna be afraid,” Saenz said. “If our president, our nominee, Trump, can take a bullet for us, for this country, we can certainly show up for him here.”
Shaun Ireland is another delegate from Austin.
“People are in good spirits,” Ireland said. “There’s not a dour face and, [as a] matter of fact, it’s pretty much energized. Like, everyone here, there’s almost like a resolve of, 'We are going to win this election.'"
Secret Service officials worked on the RNC security plan for 18 months.
“We are confident in the security plans that are in place for this event,” Audrey Gibson-Cicchino, RNC coordinator for the Secret Service, said during a news conference Sunday. “We are not anticipating any changes to our operational security plans for this event.”
Thom Bolsch is a retired Secret Service agent in Texas.
“Because we’ve done this so many times – RNCs, DNCs – it’s pretty much cookie-cutter. But now, they might kick out perimeters and they might do a couple other things,” Bolsch said during an interview with KVUE on Sunday.
The plan in place involves law enforcement officers from 24 states and Washington, D.C., including an undisclosed number of Austin police officers.
“This is about the amount of security that we would anticipate,” Saenz said. "I wouldn't be surprised if you see it beefed up a little bit more."
“Every badge is being checked as you come in,” Will Lutz, an alternate delegate from Austin, said during an interview with KVUE from the convention floor Monday afternoon. "There were security rules that were announced to us in advance, clear bags. A lot like when you’re going to a major sporting event.”
“People are being very careful," Lutz added.
Former President Trump is expected to address delegates on Thursday evening, the final night of the convention.