Now that Cathie Adams is chairman of the Republican Party of Texas, what’s next?

Adams said recruiting good candidates and raising the money to fund them is her next top priority.

When asked, Adams refused to retract her endorsement of Gov. Rick Perry for re-election but did not elaborate on it any more. She did, however, encourage Perry’s opponent, U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison to make her intentions known about whether and when she’ll resign prior to the January filing deadline so that other state office-holders can make decisions.

When asked how she’d get along with House Speaker Joe Straus, who has often disagreed with social conservatives, Adams replied “honorably and with all respect. I look forward to working with each and every member.”

Adams also noted that she intends to resign her position as Republican National Committeewoman from Texas. (The party chairman is automatically a member of the Republican National Committee, so Adams will remain on the committee.) Adams said she will time her resignation so that the vacancy can be filled at a regular meeting of the State Republican Executive Committee, rather than forcing a special meeting of the Committee. (When a vacancy occurs, the election has to be called within 30 days.) Adams will also resign as president as the Texas Eagle Forum.

Adams said she didn’t hear from the grassroots on this race, but many Republican elected officials encouraged her to run.

The election and the coalitions are hard to characterize in a short blog post.  This was not an ideological battle. All candidates are conservative, on both fiscal and social issues. This was about friendships and discussions of party strategy.

One thing that won't change, Adams stated, is the party's commitment to the values in the GOP platform. Socially conservative Republicans have controlled the Republican Party operation since 1994, and this election continues that trend.