(Fort Worth, TX) — The Tarrant County Republican Party is keeping its Muslim vice chair, despite efforts to remove him because of his religion.

Party members voted 139-49 on Thursday night in favor of keeping Dr. Shahid Shafi as their vice chair.  One vocal precinct chair had raised objections based on Shafi’s religion.  Shafi is a surgeon, a member of the Southlake City Council, and president of the Southlake Republican Club.

Governor Greg Abbott had come to his support amid the effort to remove him.