- Several groups funded by left-wing donors, including personal injury trial lawyers who worked to “Stop MAGA Republicans” in 2024, have spent over $2.2 million to influence Republican Primary elections in recent weeks
- The donors include Muhammad Aziz, a Houston attorney who has donated to Congresswoman Ilhan Omar and whose law firm brags about representing illegal aliens
- Candidates supported by the Democrat-backed effort include Armin Mizani (HD 98), Chris Spencer (HD 1), Desi Martinez (HD 118), Jeff Forrester (HD 89), Kristin Plaisance (HD 3), Dennis Geesaman (HD 85), and Matt Thorsen (HD 67)
A group of left-wing megadonors has intensified their efforts to influence Republican Primary elections in recent weeks, newly released campaign finance data reveals.
The donors include several prominent personal injury lawyers and law firms that joined with George Soros to bankroll a multi-million dollar effort that urged voters to “Stop MAGA Republicans” and “Vote For Every Democrat” during the 2024 General Election.
According to campaign finance reports filed with the Texas Ethics Commission, several Political Action Committees funded by these donors spent over $2.2 million on Republican Primary races between January 23 and February 21. Combined with previous spending, these liberal-funded groups have doled out over $5 million to influence Republican primaries this election cycle.
Groups that are part of this effort include Justice for Texas Victims PAC, the Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC, Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC, Coalition for Working Families PAC, and Physicians for Free Market Healthcare PAC.
One of the most notable of these leftist benefactors is Houston trial lawyer Muhammad Aziz, who has donated to multiple Democrat politicians in recent years. These include embattled Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, who has recently made comments calling for the abolition of ICE.
During the 2026 Primary election cycle, Aziz personally donated $300,000 to Justice for Texas Victims PAC and $125,000 to the Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC. Aziz’s law firm, Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner, donated $1 million to the Coalition for Working Families PAC.
In addition to the PAC contributions, Aziz has also donated directly to Republican candidates. Aaron Reitz, who is running for Texas Attorney General, received $100,000 from Aziz earlier this month. Armin Mizani, who is running for State Representative in Tarrant County, accepted $10,000 from Aziz in December.
Houston law firm Arnold & Itkin donated $10 million to launch the Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC last year. Texans for Truth and Liberty reported spending over $900,000 to influence Republican Primaries during the most recent campaign finance reporting period, and has spent $2.26 million on Republican efforts during the 2026 election cycle.
Both the Arnold & Itkin and Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner law firms were major donors to the liberal First Tuesday PAC during the 2024 General Election cycle. First Tuesday, which also received significant funding from George Soros, spent millions of dollars on an advertising campaign to turn out Democrat voters.
“MAGA Abortion Bans Kill Mothers”, read one of First Tuesday’s ads, while others urged voters to “Stop MAGA Republicans” and “Vote For Every Democrat.”
The two firms have also boasted about their work representing illegal aliens.
In races for open seats in the Texas House, candidates Armin Mizani, Chris Spencer, and Desi Martinez have been the biggest beneficiaries of these liberal donors’ efforts.
Mizani’s race, in particular, has attracted significant attention. In its most recent campaign finance report, Texans for Truth and Liberty reported spending nearly $460,000 on ads for Mizani this month. In addition to those ads, Texans for Truth and Liberty has donated $312,500 to Mizani’s campaign, the Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC has donated $215,000, Justice for Texas Victims PAC has donated $20,000, and Physicians for Free Market Healthcare has donated $50,000.
The Coalition for Working Families PAC has also reported making recent expenditures supporting Mizani. Its most recent campaign finance report shows it spent $100,000 for a digital media program for Mizani on February 13 and $11,644 for a mailer for Mizani on February 17.
The vendor used by the Coalition for Working Families for its mailer supporting Mizani, Jeff Crosby Direct mail, has a long history of working for Democrat campaigns.
“Do you need a powerful Democratic message? Do you need eye-catching, persuasive mail to deliver it? If so, send me an email and let’s talk,” reads Crosby’s website.
Miazni faces longtime conservative activist Fred Tate in the Republican Primary for Texas House District 98, which covers a portion of Tarrant County. Tate, whom Governor Greg Abbott has endorsed, has highlighted Mizani’s backing from Democrats in his campaign.
Chris Spencer, who is running to succeed retiring State Representative Gary VanDeaver in Texas House District 1, received $100,000 from Texans for Truth and Liberty, $81,000 from the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, $10,000 from the Coalition for Working Families, and $5,000 from Physicians for Free Market Healthcare over the last month.
Desi Martinez, a trial lawyer running in the Republican Primary to succeed State Representative John Lujan in the San Antonio-area House District 118, has received $50,000 from the Texas Trial Lawyers Association and $20,000 from Physicians for Free Market Healthcare during his campaign. He has also received large donations from several personal injury lawyers with long histories of Democrat donations. Martinez previously ran for House District 118 as a Democrat in 2021.
Several incumbent Republican lawmakers who have been endorsed for re-election by President Trump have also found themselves targeted by these liberal donors.
Jeff Forrester, who is challenging State Representative Candy Noble in House District 89 in Collin County, received $71,000 from the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, $10,000 from the Coalition for Working Families, and $5,000 from Physicians for Free Market Healthcare earlier this month.
Noble was the lead author of House Bill 4211, which was described by Governor Abbott’s office as banning “Sharia compounds” in Texas, such as the controversial EPIC City development. In addition to her endorsement from President Trump, she is also endorsed by Governor Abbott, Senator Ted Cruz, and multiple conservative advocacy organizations.
As previously reported by The Texas Voice, Forrester voted to increase property tax rates three times as a member of the Wylie City Council.
Kristen Plaisance, who is running against State Representative Cecil Bell, Jr. in Texas House District 3, received $25,000 from Justice for Texas Victims PAC on February 12. Plaisance aligned with Soros-funded social justice groups when she opposed Proposition 3, a bail reform amendment to the Texas Constitution, in November. Proposition 3 was supported by Governor Abbott, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, every Republican state legislator, and public safety advocates.
Dennis “Goose” Geesaman, who supported property tax rate increases as a member of the Flatonia City Council, received $25,000 from the Coalition for Working Families on February 6. Geesaman is challenging State Representative Stan Kitzman in Texas House District 85.
Matt Thorsen, who is opposing State Representative Jeff Leach in Texas House District 67, received $125,000 from Justice for Texas Victims over the past month. The donations from Justice for Texas Victims account for more than three-quarters of the funds raised by Thorsen during his campaign.
Despite his campaign being largely bankrolled by a PAC whose largest donor, Muhammad Aziz, is a Democrat who donated to Ilhan Omar and whose law firm funded efforts to “Stop MAGA Republicans”, Thorsen advertises that he is “NOT A RINO” on his campaign signs.
