- Although in the middle of an urgent legal battle over Congressional redistricting, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton held a fundraiser at a luxury resort in Puerto Rico on Thursday
- The lead host of Paxton’s event was Chris Ekstrom, a controversial activist with a history of making disparaging comments about President Trump
- Recent polling shows Senator John Cornyn well ahead of Democrats Colin Allred and James Talarico, with the same poll showing Paxton tied with Allred and trailing Talarico
Texas Attorney General and U.S Senate Ken Paxton held a fundraiser Thursday at a luxury oceanfront resort in Puerto Rico hosted by a controversial activist who has called President Trump a “PROVEN Globalist!!!” and accused him of “GROOMER ENABLING.”
Paxton’s “strategic meetings and evening fundraiser reception” was held at the Ritz Carlton Reserve at Dorado Beach in Dorado, Puerto Rico. With guest rooms that can run thousands of dollars per night, the resort describes itself as “one of Puerto Rico’s most exclusive luxury resorts.”
The lead host of the event, Chris Ekstrom, is a political activist with a history of making disparaging comments about President Trump and has found himself at the center of several controversies surrounding his political activities.
In a January 30, 2023, tweet responding to the “Florida Politics” Twitter account, Ekstrom wrote, “Trump is a PROVEN Globalist!!!”
On May 17, 2023, in response to a social media post accusing Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort of being “pro-transgenderism”, Ekstrom remarked, “Why TRUMP must be pummeled EVERY DAMN DAY on his GROOMER ENABLING at his plush YMCA (Mar-a-Lago). NY VALUES ain’t cutting it. DEATH ☠️ to WOKE, Donald!!!”
Ekstrom has also used crude language to describe Trump’s relationship with former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. On January 8, 2023, Ekstrom tweeted, “Trump was bitched over & over by his Master MITCH. Trump is MITCH’S Bitch. Full stop!”
In 2023, Ekstrom garnered media attention after launching the “Draft Tucker” PAC, purportedly seeking to draft commentator Tucker Carlson to run for President. The PAC was disavowed by Carlson, whose attorney described the PAC as a “scam.” While the Draft Tucker PAC was quickly shuttered, Ekstrom also attacked Carlson’s attorney, Harmeet Dhillon, as a “loser.” Dhillon now serves in the Trump administration as the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Justice.
Ekstrom’s Courageous Conservatives PAC drew the ire of Republican state legislators late last year after sending mass text messages opposing Dustin Burrows’ bid for Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, including the personal cell phone numbers of targeted lawmakers. These tactics were condemned by Burrows’ opponent for Speaker, David Cook, who described the text message campaign as potentially criminal.
“Shame on Courageous Conservatives PAC for publishing Texas House Members’ personal cell phones. This below the belt political tactic is reprehensible and the opposite of the Christmas ceasefire called for yesterday.
Under HB611 that passed last session, this could potentially be a crime and if it’s not, sign me up to help make it more clear.
I hope that malicious actors like this will not further disrupt the peaceful enjoyment of the season for my Colleagues and their Families,” said Cook about the mass text messages.
Republican State Representative Pat Curry, who was one of the legislators targeted by the text message campaign despite his support of Cook for Speaker, filed a lawsuit against Ekstrom and the Courageous Conservatives PAC in January. Curry’s lawsuit remains pending.
Paxton’s Puerto Rico fundraiser comes as his office is in the middle of an intense legal battle over Congressional redistricting. Earlier this week, a Federal court struck down the “Big Beautiful Map” that was passed by state lawmakers during a special legislative session in August. Paxton has said that his office will appeal the ruling to the United States Supreme Court.
This summer, Paxton was criticized for vacationing in Europe amid litigation involving Democrat State Representatives who broke quorum to obstruct Congressional redistricting.
While in Puerto Rico, Paxton recorded a video from the resort alongside Ekstrom and political consultant Al-Karim Gilani, wishing one of his supporters well after she was unable to attend his event due to a medical issue.
“Hey TK! We’re out here on the golf course, missing you, praying that you get better. Happy Birthday! We love you,” said Paxton. The video was posted to Facebook by Tawanna “TK” Crabb, who is listed as a member of the host committee for Paxton’s event.
A recent poll conducted by Republican pollster Chris Perkins of Ragnar Research shows Paxton in a dead heat with potential Democratic opponents, while Senator John Cornyn enjoys a healthy lead against the Democrats. The poll shows Cornyn leading former Congressman Colin Allred 47%-40% and Cornyn leading State Representative James Talarico 46%-40%. Paxton, on the other hand, is shown tied with Allred at 44% and trailing Talarico with 43% to 44% for Talarico.
