Sandra Puente usually skims through the daily emails that RodeoHouston officials send to volunteers to prepare for her next shift. But on Tuesday, she was glad she read one particular email from beginning to end.
It was a reminder from officials about the nonprofit organization’s policy forbidding political and discriminatory practices after receiving complaints of “Let’s Go Brandon” messages spread from some volunteers.
Puente shared a screenshot of the email message with the Chronicle.
“We received complaints from fellow committeemen regarding Show representatives who are wearing ‘Let’s Go Brandon’ and other messages on clothing and lanyards,” the message said.
“These political messages are not allowed according to our policies.”
Rodeo officials reminded its volunteers of its policy banning political and discriminatory messages after receiving complaints of show representatives wearing “Let’s Go Brandon” messages on clothing and lanyards.
Courtesy of Sandra Puente
The phrase “Let’s Go Brandon” started when race car driver Brandon Brown won his first NASCAR Xfinity Series race and was being interviewed by NBC reporter Kelli Stavast. In the background, some in the crowd chanted a vulgar anti-Biden message, but Stavast said the crowd was chanting “Let’s go, Brandon!” in her broadcast.
Although it remains unclear if Stavast misheard the crowd’s actual words or if she purposely tried to change the message, the phrase caught wind in conservative right-wing circles and then made its way onto the House Floor from a Florida Republican.
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Puente recalls someone handing out stickers with the divisive message during the Rodeo’s Jr. Cook-off Contest held on opening weekend, but didn’t complain because she wasn’t sure whether they were a volunteer or a member of the public.
However, if she sees it happening again she plans to report it directly to her club chairman.
“I’m glad they said something,” said Puente, who has volunteered for the last 10 years and is a member of the corral club committee.
Even as a local activist in the Democratic party who has worked in politics for candidates and elected officials, Puente said Rodeo is not the time or place for politics.
“I don’t want to talk about it when I’m not doing it,” she said. “I just want to do Rodeo stuff, it’s the one time not to think about that stuff. We don’t want anyone ruining our fun.”
A Rodeo spokesperson confirmed in an email to the Chronicle that the message was sent to its 35,000 volunteers on Tuesday reminding them of its policy, which states its status as a non-profit organization that is precluded from engaging in political activity.
“Merchandise and clothing must be appropriate for a public audience of all ages, races and ethnicities, and may not consist of material that may detract from the general character of the Rodeo. Any violation of this policy will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.”
Rodeo officials did not specify whether they identified or spoke to the volunteers responsible for spreading the message.
Puente said she was surprised that someone would even jeopardize losing their esteemed credentials over a political affiliation.
“We have to be very conscious of the language we use because they can kick us out for any reason,” she said. “There could be someone in the rodeo hierarchy listening or someone who’s just taking their kids out for a good time. And I think a lot of that has gone out of the window sometimes.”
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In her decade of experience volunteering at Rodeo, this is the first time that she’s seen anything political, she said citing Houston’s diverse ethnic makeup as a possible reason.
“As far as I can tell nobody’s really worn political stuff,” she said.
“I’ve never seen it before. Not even when Donald Trump was in office. The wind has definitely shifted.”
