AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) - Two Republican candidates embattled in an upcoming run-off election recently had their coffers stuffed with a $100,000 donation from a political action committee.
From Feb. 28 to May 2, Empower Texans, a PAC supporting conservative candidates, has expended $313,500 in political contributions, according to a campaign finance report filed with the Texas Ethics Commission.
The majority of the funds went to two candidates, state Sen. Dan Patrick, who is in run-off race for lieutenant governor, and state Sen. Ken Paxton, who is also in a run-off race for attorney general.
Both candidates received $100,000 donations from the PAC, according to the TEC.
Patrick, a Houston conservative radio jockey, walloped incumbent Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst in the March 4 primary, capturing 550,769 votes for 41.45 percent of the total vote - exceeding Dewhurst's 28.31 percent vote total.
Paxton captured 566,080 votes for 44.44 percent. His closest opponent, Texas Rep. Dan Branch, came in at second, hauling in 33.49 percent of the vote, according to the office of the Texas Secretary of State.
Both candidates are favored to win in the upcoming May 27 primary election.
Over the past few months, Empower Texans raked in $610,650 in contributions - a sum bolstered almost exclusively by one man's checkbook, according to the TEC.
On March 27 oilman Tim Dunn contributed $600,000 to the PAC.
From Legal Newsline: Reach David Yates at elections@legalnewsline.com.
PAC gives Republican Texas run-off candidates $100k boosts
