It’s arguably the most competitive congressional race in Texas this year — and several GOP donors are unwilling to let it go without a fight.
Future Leaders Fund, a Republican PAC, spent $23,000 last week in support of Tony Gonzales, the GOP candidate challenging Democrat Gina Ortiz Jones for the chance to nab retiring Rep. Will Hurd’s open south Texas seat.
Gonzales is still facing off against another Republican in the GOP runoff for Texas’ 23rd congressional district, although the Navy veteran has received the endorsement of Hurd.
The Future Leaders Fund has put a total of $70,190 into supporting Gonzales’ campaign. It is the only PAC so far to put money into ads in the competitive race.
Of the PAC’s funding, a fourth ($100,000) has come from Woody Hunt, an El Paso real estate mogul and GOP megadonor.
Other sizeable contributions include Valero Energy and James Perry, a former finance executive for Trinity Industries, a Dallas-based energy transportation corporation.
The money given in support of Gonzales has gone to FP1 Strategies, an advertising firm that has cut ads for several Republican lawmakers, including Sen. John Cornyn and Rep. Dan Crenshaw.
The Future Leaders Fund PAC is also funding Wesley Hunt, the GOP candidate vying to take back a recently flipped Democratic Houston area seat.
The massive south Texas congressional district is just one of three open seats where Democrats are launching an offensive this year. Jones, a former Air Force captain and public servant, came within less than one percentage point of beating Hurd last year — a feat Jones said was responsible for causing Hurd’s retirement from Congress.
Photo: Samuel Corum – Pool/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
