Good morning -

We have a few updates for you this beautiful Wednesday morning:

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RPT FINANCIAL POSITION IS EVEN WEAKER

Mark McCaig, a former SREC member who writes for a site called The Texas Voice, reviewed the Republican Party of Texas’ most recent campaign finance filings and compared them to the major cash infusion in Texas that will benefit Democrats.

Here’s what he found:

Democratic Donors Target Texas While State GOP Cash Woes Persist

Mark McCaig

July 23, 2024

Recent campaign finance reporting data has revealed that Prominent Democratic donors across the nation have continued to invest millions of dollars into building Democratic political infrastructure in Texas. This massive investment from the left comes as the Republican Party of Texas operates with a staff that is nearly 90% smaller than it operated with during the 2020 Presidential election cycle.

The Texas Majority PAC received $2.95 million of the $3.22 million it raised during the first half of this year from New York billionaire donor George Soros. The PAC spent over $1.8 million during the reporting period, leaving it with just over $2 million. Much of what the group spent went to pay for payroll expenses and donations to Democratic Party organizations and allied groups across Texas. 

In addition to making significant investments in urban areas such as Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio, the Texas Majority PAC also made substantial expenditures in the Rio Grande Valley. The group’s most significant expenditure in the Rio Grande Valley was a $50,000 donation to the Cameron County Democrats PAC on May 30. 

Cameron County is the population center in several key races in November, with former Congresswoman Mayra Flores challenging incumbent Democratic Congressman Vicente Gonzalez in Congressional District 34, Adam Hinojosa in a rematch against Democratic State Senator Morgan LaMantia in State Senate District 27, and Republican State Representative Janie Lopez facing Democratic opponent Jonathan Gracia in Texas House District 37. 

Several down-ballot Republican candidates are also running viable campaigns in Cameron County with the support of Project Red TX. This political action committee supports Republican candidates in county-level races across South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley.

The Texas Majority PAC also reported spending over $84,000 in legal fees with the Elias Law Group, a Washington, DC-based law firm run by controversial Democratic election lawyer Marc Elias. An article appearing in The Federalist earlier this year described Elias as the “Democrats’ favorite lawfare artist” and his firm as “practitioners of unbridled leftist lawfare.”

In 2021, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals sanctioned Elias, who was then with the law firm of Perkins Coie, for engaging in a “lack of candor” in a lawsuit against the State of Texas regarding straight-ticket voting. Last year, Axios reported on a split between Elias and President Biden’s political operation. Axios wrote that those in the Biden camp “felt that Elias’ tactics were more grandstanding than constructive.”

The Texas Majority PAC also made small donations to Democratic Party organizations in rural counties that are heavily Republican, including Smith, Calhoun, Aransas, and Atascosa counties.  

The PAC For America’s Future- TX raised over $9.1 million during the first half of 2024 and reported having slightly more than $12 million in the bank. George Soros’ son, Jonathan Soros, was the largest donor to the group during the reporting period, having given $2 million in March. Barry Munger, a New York photographer and son of late Berkshire Hathaway executive Charlie Munger, donated nearly $1.5 million in May. The PAC for America’s Future- TX has yet to report any significant expenditures in Texas. 

As previously reported by The Texas Voice, George Soros has shown particular interest in Texas elections during the current election cycle. According to campaign finance data filed with the Texas Ethics Commission, members of the Soros family have donated over $10.5 million to Democratic organizations and other liberal political action committees in Texas since last year. 

Candidates supported by the Soros family include Democratic Congressman Vicente Gonzalez, who received $3,300 donations- the maximum allowed by Federal law- from Jonathan Soros and his wife, Jennifer, earlier this year.

While Democrats continue to target Texas, the Republican Party of Texas continues to struggle. The most recent campaign finance report filed by the Republican Party of Texas with the Federal Election Commission reflected just six employees on the Party’s payroll- down from nearly 60 at the same time during the 2020 Presidential election cycle.

The Republican Party of Texas reported having $2.29 million on hand in its federal account as of the end of June, more than $1 million less than the $3.35 million it reported at the same time in 2020. The $2.29 million reported by the Party in its federal account includes approximately $1.4 million from the Ted Cruz Victory Fund that is earmarked towards a party-coordinated expenditure with the Cruz campaign. 

At a meeting of the State Republican Executive Committee at the Party’s state convention in May, the Party’s treasurer reported that after accounting for the funds dedicated to Cruz and unpaid bills for the state convention, the Party had approximately $500,000 in operating funds available. 

The reports for the Party’s state account painted an even bleaker picture. In a campaign finance report filed with the Texas Ethics Commission last week, the Party reported having just $45,462.75 in its state account as of the end of June. This contrasts with the $881,805.08 the Party reported having in its state account at the end of June 2020. 

Looking at the Texas GOP’s state and federal accounts combined, the Party had 44.8% less cash on hand—amounting to almost $1.9 million—going into the 2024 general election than it had going into the 2020 general election.” The Texas Voice

TRUMP / VANCE SIGNS AVAILABLE

The Travis County GOP (based in Austin) has bulk-ordered Trump-Vance signs and Texas for Trump yard signs and banners and you can:

> Pick them up in Austin

> Have them delivered in Austin

> Have them shipped anywhere in the US

TAKE ACTION:

> Reserve your Trump-Vance signs here.

> Reserve your Texas for Trump signs here.

TCRP LAUNCHES LARGEST GOTV EFFORT IN HISTORY

Travis County GOP chair Matt Mackowiak, in partnership with the executive committee, announced on Monday that TCRP will launch the largest Get Out the Vote effort in county history, with all precinct chairs and local Republicans being asked to make specific voter registration, phone call, door knock and financial commitments via survey and a new committee being formed to execute the plan.

To support TCRP’s GOTV effort, you can donate here.

To join TCRP’s GOTV effort, email [email protected].

More soon!

UPCOMING AUSTIN AREA EVENTS:

> Private Reagan screening (before it is available in theaters) in North Austin on Aug. 29, including a panel for with Reagan officials. Tickets here.

> TCRP Chairman’s Circle private dinner with Congressman Chip Roy on September 4 in SW Austin. Learn more about the Chairman’s Circle here. Or email Lauren Day for more info.

TCRP LAUNCHES LARGEST GOTV EFFORT IN HISTORY

Travis County GOP chair Matt Mackowiak, in partnership with the executive committee, announced on Monday that TCRP will launch the largest Get Out the Vote effort in county history, with all precinct chairs and local Republicans being asked to make specific voter registration, phone call, door knock, and financial commitments via survey and a new committee being formed to execute the plan. The surveys will launch later today.

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To financially support the Trump campaign, please securely give here -- https://secure.winred.com/trump-47-committee/2024?fundraiser_id=36310.

To learn more about the Travis County GOP, please visit -- http://www.TravisGOP.com. 

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