As a descendant of Revolutionary War patriots, Brian Newman has a family history of fighting for freedom. But the Collin County grassroots organizer and McKinney Tea Party leader says his political activism is tied to more than just history.
“God has called me to do this,” Newman says. “It’s my ministry.”
Newman is a 12th-generation New Yorker who moved to McKinney, Texas five years ago.
Like so many other Americans, Newman was drawn into political activism by the passage of Obamacare – what he describes as the “immorality of having our freedom revoked.”
That big-government intrusion into the personal lives of every individual ran counter to his conservative Christian principles, and the liberties enshrined in the Constitution that he actively strives to see restored.
Newman felt further encouragement to get more involved in politics by Ted Cruz’s 2012 primary win over former Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst. It was a victory accomplished in large part by conservative grassroots activists’ support for Cruz over the establishment-backed Dewhurst.
As leader of the McKinney Tea Party, Newman hopes to encourage more of his Collin County neighbors to get politically engaged at the local level to elect more Christian conservatives to school boards, city councils, and college boards.
He also wants to begin identifying a donor network in North Texas to better support conservative causes and candidates at the local, state, and federal levels.
When he’s not busy organizing and activating conservatives in Collin County, or scheduling and emceeing Tea Party meetings – roughly 30 a year since 2014 – Newman is also a full-time father. He and his wife Nicole have two children.
Newman enjoys spending his free time reading the Bible (1560 Geneva edition) and the words of the founders and their families; watching classic western movies and musicals with his kids; running and shooting.
When asked what advice he would give other Texans who want to get involved but aren’t sure what they can do to make a difference, Newman suggested they first pray, then:
“Contact me! I will gladly guide you through the process of becoming active. We have low-level, mid-level, and high-level engagement and involvement. Whichever level you choose – whether two or 20 hours a week – make your activism a habit.”
“Regardless of our age or circumstances,” he said, “we can make a difference with God in our lives.”
Newman is a living example.
