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Weddington was formerly employed by the firm Kinetic Concepts owned by her fellow San Antonio Republican James R. Leininger (born 1944), who was a major donor to Governor Perry, other Republican candidates, and [[conservative]] causes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.texastribune.org/2011/08/26/who-perry-supporter-james-leininger/|title=The Skinny: James Leininger|date=August 26, 2011|publisher=''The Texas Tribune''|accessdate=June 26, 2020}}</ref> A [[Christian]] conservative [[Activism|activist]], Weddington became interested in politics as the mother of a teenaged son visiting the Texas State Capitol in [[Austin]]. Her particular interests at the time were education and product liability laws, which had caused her problems in her own business.<ref name=chairstarrole>"Texas GOP chair has star role," ''The Laredo Morning Times,'' March 19, 2015.</ref>

Weddington was formerly employed by the firm Kinetic Concepts owned by her fellow San Antonio Republican James R. Leininger (born 1944), who was a major donor to Governor Perry, other Republican candidates, and [[conservative]] causes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.texastribune.org/2011/08/26/who-perry-supporter-james-leininger/|title=The Skinny: James Leininger|date=August 26, 2011|publisher=''The Texas Tribune''|accessdate=June 26, 2020}}</ref> A [[Christian]] conservative [[Activism|activist]], Weddington became interested in politics as the mother of a teenaged son visiting the Texas State Capitol in [[Austin]]. Her particular interests at the time were education and product liability laws, which had caused her problems in her own business.<ref name=chairstarrole>"Texas GOP chair has star role," ''The Laredo Morning Times,'' March 19, 2015.</ref>

In 1990, Weddington in 1990 placed a black wreath that read “Death to the Family” at the door of the campaign headquarters in Austin for the successful [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] gubernatorial nominee,  [[Ann Richards]], the departing state treasurer who that year defeated Republican [[oil]]man Clayton Wheat Williams, Jr. (1931-2020), of [[Midland]]. A strong Williams supporter, Weddington placed a black wreath that read "Death to the Family" at the door of Ann Richards's campaign headquarters in Austin. At the state Republican convention that year, she participated in a prayer rally and called upon the Almighty to "watch over the caucus rooms and the convention hall."<ref>{{cite web|url=​https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/3/20/1500105/-Texas-Gov-Ann-Richards-She-represented-inclusion|title=Texas Gov. Ann Richards: 'She represented inclusion'|publisher=''The Daily Kos''|author=Denise Oliver Velez|date=March 20, 2016|accessdate=June 26, 2020}}</ref>

In 1990, Weddington in 1990 placed a black wreath that read “Death to the Family” at the door of the campaign headquarters in Austin for the successful [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] gubernatorial nominee,  [[Ann Richards]], the departing state treasurer who that year defeated Republican [[oil]]man Clayton Wheat Williams, Jr. (1931-2020), of [[Midland]]. A strong Williams supporter, Weddington placed a black wreath that read "Death to the Family" at the door of Ann Richards's campaign headquarters in Austin. At the state Republican convention that year, she participated in a prayer rally and called upon the Almighty to "watch over the caucus rooms and the convention hall."<ref>{{cite web|url=​https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/3/20/1500105/-Texas-Gov-Ann-Richards-She-represented-inclusion|title=Texas Gov. Ann Richards: 'She represented inclusion'|publisher=''Daily Kos''|author=Denise Oliver Velez|date=March 20, 2016|accessdate=June 26, 2020}}</ref>

In 1997, Weddington was unanimously elected state chairwoman by the Republican State Executive Committee to succeed conservative Tom Pauken of [[Dallas]], who resigned after three years in the position to run, unsuccessfully as it developed, for state attorney general.<ref name=laj/> She was Pauken's choice as his successor. For part of her tenure, the vice chairman was the conservative author and activist David Barton (born 1954). The post ultimately went to [[John Cornyn]], now the long-serving senior [[U.S. Senator]] for Texas. Weddington held strength from both the religious conservative wing of her party and the fiscal conservatives as well. Chuck Anderson, then the executive director of the [[Christian Coalition]], described Weddington as "very, very well respected by members of the party from all ideological stripes." In 2000, Republicans held 1,600 of the approximately 4,000 elected offices in Texas but all statewide offices. Weddington said that she was determined to bring the party to long-term majority status, with particular emphasis on the state legislature.<ref name=chairstarrole/>

In 1997, Weddington was unanimously elected state chairwoman by the Republican State Executive Committee to succeed conservative Tom Pauken of [[Dallas]], who resigned after three years in the position to run, unsuccessfully as it developed, for state attorney general.<ref name=laj/> She was Pauken's choice as his successor. For part of her tenure, the vice chairman was the conservative author and activist David Barton (born 1954). The post ultimately went to [[John Cornyn]], now the long-serving senior [[U.S. Senator]] for Texas. Weddington held strength from both the religious conservative wing of her party and the fiscal conservatives as well. Chuck Anderson, then the executive director of the [[Christian Coalition]], described Weddington as "very, very well respected by members of the party from all ideological stripes." In 2000, Republicans held 1,600 of the approximately 4,000 elected offices in Texas but all statewide offices. Weddington said that she was determined to bring the party to long-term majority status, with particular emphasis on the state legislature.<ref name=chairstarrole/>