Four Democrat candidates seeking seats in the Texas House of Representatives currently held by Republicans have been boosted in the final weeks of the election by large donations from a mysterious group that is not registered with state campaign finance disclosure authorities.
On its website, “Save Our Schools Now” describes itself as “a nonpartisan Political Action Committee (PAC)” that is “dedicated to saving our schools and ensuring every child in Texas has access to quality public education” and “focused on supporting candidates who prioritize public education and oppose the use of vouchers.”
However, no such PAC is on file with the Texas Ethics Commission. Additionally, The Texas Voice was unable to locate any entity with the name “Save Our Schools Now” on file with the Texas Secretary of State or the Federal Election Commission.
Under the Texas Election Code, a political committee must file a campaign treasurer appointment with the Texas Ethics Commission. A political committee is prohibited from knowingly accepting more than $500 in contributions or making more than $500 in political expenditures without having a campaign treasurer appointment in effect.
Based on campaign finance reports filed by candidates, the group appears to have spent at least $115,000 over the last month supporting Democrats seeking election to the Texas House. However, it has not filed any campaign finance disclosures with the Texas Ethics Commission showing where these funds came from.
Denise Wilkerson, a Democrat challenging Republican State Representative Tony Tinderholt in Texas House District 94 in Tarrant County, reported receiving $10,000 from “Save Our Schools” on October 11 and an additional $5,000 on October 25.
Laurel Jordan Swift, running against Republican Marc LaHood in Texas House District 121 in Bexar County, reported a $30,000 contribution from “Save Our Schools Now” on October 11, 2024. The district is currently represented by Republican State Representative Steve Allison, who LaHood defeated in the Republican Primary.
Allison has crossed party lines to endorse Swift in the General Election against LaHood, while LaHood has been endorsed by Governor Greg Abbott and groups including the National Border Patrol Council and the Deputy Sheriff’s Association of Bexar County. LaHood’s campaign is one of the most expensive Texas House races in Texas this year, with LaHood raising over $1.6 in the General Election from an assortment of donors across the spectrum of the Republican Party.
Notable donors to LaHood include Texans for Lawsuit Reform, the Greg Abbott Campaign, Texans United for a Conservative Majority PAC, the Republican Party of Texas, and the Texas Defense PAC, which is funded by Las Vegas Sands and Dallas Mavericks owner Miriam Adelson.
Former Democrat State Representative Michelle Beckley, running for Texas House District 63 in Denton County, reported a $30,000 contribution from “Save Our Schools Now PAC” on October 4. Beckley is running incumbent Republican State Representative Ben Bumgarner.
Although Beckley does not currently serve in the Texas House of Representatives, her campaign signs and website feature the words “Re-Elect Michelle Beckley for State Representative.”
Democrat Texas House candidate Jonathan Gracia reported receiving $30,000 from “Save Our Schools PAC” on October 4 and another $10,000 on October 21. Gracia is challenging incumbent Republican Janie Lopez for Texas House District 37, which covers part of Cameron County and all of Willacy County in the Rio Grande Valley.
The Texas Voice has previously reported on several controversies involving Gracia, including a $5,000 payment his campaign made earlier this year to a company owned by Manuel Media, a Democrat political consultant who recently had 65 cell phones and 41 laptop computers seized from his home as part of an investigation into possible voter fraud.
The Democrat candidates who received funds from Save Our Schools Now could potentially find themselves in hot water if they knew the donations were made in violation of Texas law.
Section 253.003 of the Texas Election Code prohibits a person from knowingly accepting a political contribution the person knows to have been made in violation of the Texas Election Code, while Section 253.005 of the Texas Election Code prohibits a person from knowingly making or authorizing a political expenditure in whole or in part from a political contribution the person knows to have been made in violation of the law.
