Prominent personal injury trial lawyer Thomas J. Henry, a ubiquitous presence across Texas billboards and television screens, announced his endorsement of Democrat James Talarico for the United States Senate on Wednesday.
Henry’s law firm donated $646,107 to Lone Star Liberty, a SuperPAC supporting Ken Paxton’s Senate bid, in May. The firm was the second largest donor to Lone Star Liberty during the Republican Primary Runoff period.
In a video posted to his law firm’s social media accounts, Henry discussed a meeting he had with Talarico.
“The reason I’m supporting James is I had the opportunity to meet with him in person for quite a long period of time and go over the issues that affect Texas and affect our country. And I found that James’ approach to these problems that affect Texas and our country were balanced, straightforward, and honest,” said Henry.
The well-known billboard lawyer also discussed his support for Paxton during the Republican Primary, saying that incumbent Senator John Cornyn “had been in office way too long.”
Once Paxton achieved Henry’s goal of ousting Cornyn, Henry said he was compelled to meet with Talarico after “learning more about the issues affecting Paxton,” ultimately throwing his support behind the Austin Democrat.
Henry is a longtime financial supporter of Democratic candidates and organizations, having been a donor to the Bexar County Democratic Party and Nueces County Democratic Party in recent years. He also donated heavily to Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton’s Presidential campaigns.
Liberal personal injury trial lawyers, including several others who boosted Paxton in the Republican Primary, are now some of the biggest donors to efforts to elect Talarico and other Democrats.
Houston trial lawyer Muhammad Aziz, a past donor to embattled Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, donated $293,000 to the Lone Star Liberty PAC to help Paxton during the Republican Primary and Runoff. Texans for Truth and Liberty, which is funded by the Arnold & Itkin law firm, donated $100,000 to the Lone Star Liberty PAC during the Runoff. Two of Aziz’s law partners were also major donors to Lone Star Liberty.
Along with other trial lawyers, Arnold & Itkin, Aziz, and Aziz’s law firm, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner, are among the largest donors to the First Tuesday PAC. Ads currently being run by First Tuesday feature images of Paxton, Governor Greg Abbott, and other Republicans and urge voters to “Vote Democrat in every race!”
The Houston-based Daly & Black law firm and Dallas attorney Mike Lyons are some of the other trial lawyers who donated to Lone Star Liberty in the Primary only to financially support efforts to help Talarico in the General Election.
The political action committee associated with the American Association for Justice (AAJ), a national trade association representing personal injury trial lawyers, donated $5,000 to Talarico’s campaign earlier this year. AAJ’s Texas affiliate, the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, was named a “partner” by Blueprint Texas PAC as it described its plan to defeat Republicans in November.
In addition to supporting several Democrats against Republicans in key legislative races, the Texas Trial Lawyers Association has also promoted a fundraising event for Talarico.
