AUSTIN — Backing his criticism of Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan with cash, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick gave $100,000 to David Covey’s campaign last month, providing one of the challenger’s largest donations ahead of next week’s Republican primary runoff.
The six-figure donation from Patrick’s campaign committee was one of six donations of at least $100,000 to Covey since he finished 3 percentage points ahead of Phelan in the March 5 primary.
It was Patrick’s second-largest contribution to a candidate this year, according to recent campaign finance reports showing $750,000 to state Senate candidate Brent Hagenbuch. Patrick has blamed Phelan for the failure of several conservative priorities that had passed the Senate but died in the House.
Covey, who is backed by former President Donald Trump and Attorney General Ken Paxton, raised $1.65 million between Feb. 25 and May 18.
Phelan, who received 43% of the primary vote to Covey’s 46%, doubled Covey’s total in the same period, bringing in $3.39 million as he tries to avoid becoming the first incumbent House speaker to be defeated in a primary since Democrat Rayford Price in 1972.
Phelan, House speaker since 2021, is in his first primary battle since his first House election in 2014.
Phelan has drawn the ire of ultraconservatives for failing to heed their call for ending the practice of appointing Democrats to lead committees, including nine Democratic chairs in 2023.
Phelan also joined 60 Republicans in voting to impeach Paxton on accusations of corruption, though the Senate voted largely along party lines for acquittal.
The House also declined to support allowing some families to use public money to pay for private schools, a priority issue for Gov. Greg Abbott and Patrick, when rural Republicans and Democrats defeated a measure last year.
Covey and Phelan’s campaigns did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday on the latest campaign finance reports.
Covey’s largest donor was Amarillo billionaire Alex Fairly, who gave Covey $400,000 on March 21 and $100,000 on May 18.
Next was Texans United for a Conservative Majority, an ultraconservative political action committee bankrolled by West Texas oil tycoons Tim Dunn and Faris Wilks that targets Republican lawmakers seen as disloyal to GOP priorities. The PAC made five donations to Covey for a total of $430,973.
Phelan’s largest contribution was $512,163 – earmarked for advertising – from the newly formed Texas Defense PAC, which had $9.05 million to spend. Miriam Adelson, the new majority owner of the Dallas Mavericks, was the PACs only contributor.
Patrick, Phelan bad blood
In December 2023, Patrick held a news conference after the fourth special session had concluded without “school choice” passing and unloaded on Phelan, saying the speaker was “impossible to work with.”
Even so, Patrick said he would not get involved in Phelan’s upcoming primary election – an unsurprising answer because leaders of the Texas House and Senate have traditionally declined to dabble in the other chamber’s business.
Patrick switched direction in 2024, supporting Covey against Phelan and – heading to the runoff – donating to the campaigns of two candidates who are trying to unseat House incumbents. Helen Kerwin got $25,000 in her race against Rep. DeWayne Burns, and Alan Schoolcraft got $5,000 in his race against Rep. John Kuempel.
Patrick also sent $25,000 to AJ Louderback in his runoff for an open House seat.
Patrick’s financial support for Covey began before the March primary, when his campaign spent $18,748 on text messages reminding voters he had endorsed Covey. Patrick has also appeared in TV ads for Covey.
In March, Patrick told WFAA that his campaign against Phelan was “not personal” but rooted in the death of GOP priority bills in the House. Patrick’s campaign did not respond to an email seeking comment on the support for Covey.
Phelan protecting incumbents
Despite facing possible ouster from the House, Phelan directed $1 million from his campaign fund to seven Republican House incumbents.
Four lawmakers got $185,000 each – Reps. Justin Holland of Rockwall, Gary VanDeaver of New Boston, Burns of Cleburne and Kuempel of Seguin.
All four voted against a provision that would have allowed some parents to use tax dollars for private and religious schools. Abbott has endorsed their challengers as he seeks to remove Republicans who voted against his school choice priority.
Phelan’s other major donations went to GOP Reps. Frederick Frazier of McKinney ($105,000) Stephanie Klick of Fort Worth ($100,000) and Lynn Stucky of Denton ($90,000).
Like Phelan, all three face Paxton-backed challengers as part of the attorney general’s efforts to to defeat House Republicans who voted last year for his impeachment.
