Unlike campaigns for state offices in Texas, where candidates can accept unlimited contributions from individual donors and Political Action Committees, candidates for Federal offices are subject to strict contribution limits. While fundraising remains vital to a campaign’s viability, spending by outside SuperPACs is increasingly important in federal races.
These outside organizations can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money to support or oppose candidates, but are prohibited from coordinating with campaigns. As a result of redistricting and the retirements of several incumbent Congressmen, Texas is home to several competitive Primary elections this year. These hotly contested races have attracted millions of dollars in independent expenditures by SuperPACs, especially in recent days.
The Texas Voice looked at independent expenditure reports filed with the Federal Election Commission, and here are some of the highlights of SuperPAC activity across the State:
Congressional District 2
Congressman Dan Crenshaw is facing a spirited Primary challenge from State Representative Steve Toth, both of whom have SuperPACs in their corner.
Fight to Win America, a SuperPAC supporting Crenshaw and opposing Toth, has been the biggest spender in the race with nearly $1.7 million in expenditures thus far. Alamo Freedom Fighters PAC, which is largely funded by Woodlands businessman Robert Marling, has spent over $400,000 opposing Crenshaw and supporting Toth.
Congressional District 8
Wealthy businessman Brett Jensen, who spent over $2.3 million of his own money in the race, dropped out last week after President Trump endorsed Jessica Steinmann, making Steinmann the heavy favorite in the race.
Even though Steinmann’s self-funding challenger waved the white flag, outside groups have continued to provide significant support to Steinmann’s candidacy. Punchbowl News has reported that Leading the Future – a group funded by the AI industry – plans on spending $500,000 in support of Steinmann in the final days before Election Day.
Defend American Jobs, which is supported by the cryptocurrency industry, has spent over $250,000 for pro-Steinmann advertising. Other SuperPACs, including True Texas Values PAC and WFW Action Fund, have spent over $400,000 to support Steinmann.
Congressional District 9
The American Liberty Foundation, which is affiliated with Congressman Jim Jordan, and the Club for Growth, which advocates for tax cuts and limited government, have both reported large expenditures in recent days supporting Army veteran and business owner Alex Mealer.
President Trump’s endorsement of Mealer last week appears to have attracted major spending on her behalf. The American Liberty Foundation has reported over $380,000 in expenditures supporting Mealer, most of which has come in the last week. The Club for Growth has reported spending over $285,000 for her in recent days.
Mealer has been the beneficiary of significant outside spending throughout the campaign, with over $2.5 million spent either supporting her or opposing State Representative Briscoe Cain, who is also seeking the seat.
Congressional District 19
In the West Texas race to succeed Congressman Jodey Arrington, agriculture businessman and policy expert Tom Sell and conservative activist Abraham Enriquez have both received support from SuperPACs.
America First Rescue, which was formed on February 9 and has yet to report its donors, has spent over $128,000 on mail and other advertising supporting Enriquez. Conservatives for American Excellence, a SuperPAC which was active in efforts to elect Republican Matt Van Epps in a Tennessee special election late last year, has spent over $200,000 to benefit Sell.
Congressional District 25
The Club for Growth and Conservatives for American Excellence are also playing active roles in the race to succeed Congressman Chip Roy, with both groups backing former baseball star Mark Teixeira.
Conservatives for American Excellence has reported over $330,000 in expenditures supporting Teixeira over the last week, while Club for Growth reported buying nearly $250,000 in pro-Teixeira advertising on February 9. The two groups have combined to spend more than $890,000 to benefit Teixeira over the past month. President Trump has endorsed Teixeira.
Congressional District 32
Facing two self-funding opponents, Trump-endorsed candidate Jace Yarbrough has benefitted from nearly $1.2 million in outside spending to boost his candidacy. The bulk of the spending has come from a group called Strong PAC, which has not yet reported any donors.
Ryan Binkley and Paul Bondar, who are also seeking the Republican nomination for the seat, have spent freely from their personal wealth on their campaigns. Binkley has spent more than $1.5 million, and Bondar has spent more than $1.9 million of their own money thus far.
Congressional District 35
While State Representative John Lujan and Air Force veteran Carlos De La Cruz have attracted SuperPAC support for their campaigns, spending in support of De La Cruz has ramped up over the last week in the wake of President Trump’s endorsement of his candidacy.
Strong PAC has reported spending nearly $240,000 supporting De La Cruz over the past week, and Defending Our Values PAC, which is backed by the AI company Anthropic, has spent over $190,000 promoting him.
Lujan’s SuperPAC support has been more modest. The Charter Schools Action PAC has spent over $23,000 supporting Lujan, and the GOPAC election fund spent over $110,000 on behalf of Lujan in January.
