The Koch-founded political advocacy group Americans for Prosperity Action is dumping thousands of dollars into Sen. John Corny’s re-election.
The dark money group is spending more than $500,000 on digital ads on Facebook, YouTube and DirectTV, according to the Austin-American Statesman.
One of the 30-second ads boasts about Cornyn’s record on healthcare, claiming the Senator has led the way on providing more healthcare at lower costs. In reality, the ad quietly cites two separate votes by Cornyn that moved to solidify the gutting of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.
Another 30-second ad touts Cornyn’s vote on the major tax cuts passed earlier in the Trump presidency that largely accommodated the wealthy in paying fewer taxes. As a result of those tax cuts, Medicare and Social Security are now facing insolvency.
The Koch network isn’t the only oil money helping to re-elect Cornyn. A closer inspection of Cornyn’s fundraising by the Signal shows that some of the world’s largest oil companies or their executives have poured thousands of dollars into the race, including ConocoPhillips, Marathon Petroleum, Halliburton, Chevron, and ExxonMobil.
Cornyn has received more than $540,000 from the oil and gas industry this cycle, more than any other member of Congress.
The Democratic U.S. Senate primary to challenge Cornyn is still going on. Air Force helicopter pilot MJ Hegar and State Sen. Royce West emerged from the crowded field on Super Tuesday and will face off in May. Recent polling shows Cornyn may find himself in a close race with either Democrat.
Photo: Samuel Corum/Getty Images
Fernando covers Texas politics and government at the Texas Signal. Before joining the Signal, Fernando spent two years at the Houston Chronicle and previously interned at Houston’s NPR station News 88.7. He is a graduate of the University of Houston, Jack J. Valenti School of Communication, and enjoys reading, highlighting things, and arguing on social media. You can follow him on Twitter at @fernramirez93 or email at fernando@texassignalarchive.com