Deep In The Pockets (Part 1)

Where the Oligarch Money Went

In the 2024 cycle, millions were spent / invested by individuals to ensure the state of Texas heads the way the oligarchs want it to go. You can read the comparison of the 2024 cycle vs cycles going back through 2016 here.

I laid out the 14 top individual donors, but I think it’s important to understand WHERE they were making their investments. This post will probably be long, but I’m going to lay out all of it (at least the dollars above $10,000), starting from the bottom, covering 14 to 6 in this one.

---

14. Jeffery Hildenbrand ($3.1 million) Net Worth $7.6 Billion

Each recipient of Hildebrand $, including their filer ID and amount they received. As you look at each of these charts as you move down the page, the light green color denotes a “non-partisan” PAC, blue is Democrats or a Democratic PAC, and red with white letters is Republicans or a Republican PAC.

---

13. Farris Wilks ($3.28 million) Net Worth $2.1 Billion

Each recipient of Wilks $, including their filer ID and amount they received.

---

12. Kenneth Fisher ($3.49 million) Net Worth $11.2 Billion

Each recipient of Fisher $, including their filer ID and amount they received.

---

11. H Ross Perot ($4.27 million) Net Worth $4.6 Billion

This is the first one where you will see the intermediate stop on the chart. Perot gave a significant enough amount to the Associated Republicans of Texas PAC, that we needed to see where THAT money was also flowing. You will see a LOT more of the intermediate money as we roll forward.

Each recipient of Perot $, including their filer ID and amount they received.

I’m going to hold off giving you the full list of Associated Republicans of Texas recipients until a little lower. Perot gave a lot, but someone else gave more.

---

10. John Nau ($4.8 million) Net Worth $2.5 Billion

Speaking of someone who gave more to Associated Republicans of Texas, here they are!

Each recipient of Nau $, including their filer ID and amount they received. This one is interesting, as it’s the first appearance of a “blue” contribution. It’s $15k to the Texas Democratic Party, and it actually came from Barbara Nau, John’s wife. You might think opposites attract, but Barbara is on the hook for $150k to Associated Reps of Texas and $15k to the Protect and Serve PAC, so maybe she’s just confused.

Now, because John Nau and H Ross Perot gave so significantly to the Associated Republicans of Texas, it’s important to see where their money flowed next.

Each recipient of Associated Republicans of Texas $, including their filer ID and amount they received.

---

9. Charles Butt ($5 million) Net Worth $7.5 Billion

Each recipient of Butt $, including their filer ID and amount they received.

Short list. But then there is the $4.4 million to the Charles Butt Public Education PAC.

Each recipient of Charles Butt Public Education PAC $, including their filer ID and amount they received. This list is long enough, I broke it into two images.

There is blue on the list, but it’s way down the list.

---

8. Barry Munger ($5.5 million) Son of Charles Munger (Estate worth $2.2 Billion)

Each recipient of Munger $, including their filer ID and amount they received.

The PAC for America’s Future - TX on has one contribution out to a candidate listed. Here it is.

---

7. Syed Javaid Anwar ($5.8 million) Midland Energy CEO

Each recipient of Anwar $, including their filer ID and amount they received.

---

6. Richard Weekley ($5.99 million) Weekly Development Company & CEO of Texans for Lawsuit Reform

Each recipient of Weekley $, including their filer ID and amount they received. It’s a long list. Again, split into two images.

That’s 37 he contributed to at $10,000 or more. His total list is 166. Seriously. There are three PACs at the top of the Weekley list we need to delve into, as the amounts are significant.

Coalition Por For Texas is where we will start. Each recipient of Coalition Por For $, including their filer ID and amount they received.

Now how about Judicial Fairness PAC? Each recipient, including their filer ID and amount they received.

And lastly, and OMG what a list, Texans for Lawsuit Reform. If you scroll back up this list, you’ll see significant TLR contributions from other oligarchs, and know that several just off this list of the top 14 were also significant TLF donors.

Here are their top donors this cycle:

• Richard Weekley (6) - $2,048,367

• H Ross Perot (11) - $2,000,000

• Jeffery Hildebrand (14) - $1,250,000

• Elon Musk Revocable Trust - $1,000,000

• David Weekley - $600,000

• J.C. Walter - $600,000

• Bryan Sheffield - $500,000

• Miram Adelson (3) - $500,000

I did a chart for Texans for Lawsuit Reform, just so you could see the scale of the $22 million they doled out.

Here is each Texans for Lawsuit Reform recipient, including their filer ID and amount they received. Brace yourself. It’s a really long list.

Hey look, it’s the first Democrats! Wait, I don’t think Shawn Thierry counts. Which then makes you question any other Democrats on this list too. If an organization is willing to give 72 Republicans a whole bunch of money, all more than you, should you really be taking their money?

But wait, we aren’t done yet.

And there are another 60 with less than $10,000 that I’m not listing.

---

Yeah, finishing this post with Richard Weekley and Texans for Lawsuit Reform feels right. Folks can talk about the oligarch at 13 and the one at 4, but the TLR folks have a grip on the government and love when it does exactly what they want it to. As the rest of the GOP has pushed right, they have too. All of these GOP oligarchs want to take away your rights. The TLR folks just do it with a smile. They are every bit as dangerous.

Before you close this up, scan back up and count just how many blue boxes you see. And when you do see them, generally they are waaaaaaaaaaaaaay down the donor list, telling you exactly how important they are perceived to be. More thoughts to come on this one.

Keep your eyes open for part II, dropping soon.

See It Name It Fight It