Local lawyer gives $2 million to Texas Democrat races
Thomas J. Henry splits the funding between the Senate and gubernatorial campaigns.
By Alexei Brooks ·
San Antonio personal injury attorney Thomas J. Henry donated $2 million on Saturday to support Democratic candidates in two major Texas races. The funds are directed toward James Talarico for the U.S. Senate seat and Gina Hinojosa for governor.
Henry split the money evenly between the two efforts. He gave $1 million to the Lone Star Rising PAC for Talarico. He placed the remaining $1 million directly with Hinojosa’s campaign.
The donation marks a sharp shift for Henry, who previously backed the Republican side. He contributed more than $600,000 to the Lone Star Liberty PAC to help Ken Paxton defeat incumbent John Cornyn in the GOP primary.
Henry cited recent scandals in Paxton’s campaign as a reason for his change of heart. He formally endorsed Talarico in a social media video in late October. The new gift also indicates he has withdrawn support from Governor Greg Abbott.
“I want the people of Texas to have the best opportunity for their future,” Henry said.
Talarico and Hinojosa held a joint rally in San Antonio on Sunday. RealClearPolitics aggregate polling shows Talarico leading Paxton by 2.5 points. Abbott currently leads Hinojosa by 3.5 points in the same polling data. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
