Newly released campaign finance data shows that New York leftist megadonor George Soros and personal injury trial lawyers are some of the most significant financial backers of efforts to elect Democrats in Texas this November. The campaign finance reports, filed with the Texas Ethics Commission, cover the period between July 1 and September 24.
The Democratic political infrastructure includes a complex network of political action committees and other organizations that are working to elect candidates up and down the ballot. While some of these PACs donate directly to candidates, others engage in independent efforts or send money to other allied groups. The newly released data only covers state – not federal – campaigns and PACs. The next round of federal campaign finance reports, filed with the Federal Election Commission, are due by October 15.
Democracy II PAC, funded by Soros, made a $7 million donation to the 1836 PAC in July, which was the only donation to the 1836 PAC during the reporting period. The 1836 PAC subsequently donated $300,000 to the Texas Democratic Party and $5.3 million to the Texas Majority PAC.
Soros, through his network of PACs, was the second largest donor to the Texas Democratic Party’s state account during the reporting period. James Talarico’s campaign was the largest donor, giving $400,000.
The Texas Majority PAC, which is funded almost entirely by the Soros network, reported spending over $6.3 million during the reporting period. The bulk of the funds spent by the Texas Majority PAC went to staff salaries and other expenses tied to its efforts to drive turnout for the entire Democratic ticket statewide, rather than expenditures earmarked for specific candidates.
The First Tuesday PAC, which is urging voters to “vote Democrat in every race,” raised over $510,000 during the most recent reporting period – over 90% of which came from personal injury trial lawyers. The PAC previously reported $1.775 million in trial lawyer donations during previous reporting periods this election cycle. Several donors to First Tuesday were involved in efforts to influence Republican Primary elections earlier this year.
One of these donors, Houston trial lawyer Muhammad Aziz, donated $50,000 to First Tuesday in July. His law firm, Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner, previously donated $300,000 to First Tuesday earlier in the 2026 election cycle.
In addition to paying for ads attacking “MAGA Republicans” that feature the images of Governor Greg Abbott and U.S. Senate candidate Ken Paxton, The Lone Star Project was a major recipient of funding from First Tuesday. On its campaign finance report, the Lone Star Project listed 14 Democratic candidates that it was assisting, including 9 Democrats running in competitive state legislative races across Texas.
The Texas Trial Lawyers Association also played a major role in funding Democrats running in targeted Texas House districts.
Zach Herbert, a Democrat running to unseat incumbent Republican State Representative Angie Chen Button in Dallas County, received $200,000 from the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, which accounted for more than half the funds Herbert raised during the reporting period.
The Texas Trial Lawyers Association made $169,650 in direct and in-kind contributions to Kristian Carranza, a Democrat running to replace outgoing Republican State Representative John Lujan in a San Antonio-area district.
Stephanie Guerrero Saenz, who is challenging Republican State Representative Denise Villalobos, and Ozzie Ochoa, who is seeking to oust Republican State Representative Janie Lopez, each received $50,000 from the Texas Trial Lawyers Association during the most recent reporting period.
