A liberal trial lawyer and Democrat donor distributed his recommendations for the Democrat primary runoff election while also advocating for the promotion of a left-leaning Texas Republican legislator he claims has “done a good job.”

“I also have a number of clients who vote in the Republican Primary and if you do and live in Kaufman, Van Zandt or any of the other East Texas counties I recommend Lance Gooden for Congress,” writes Mesquite trial lawyer Ted Lyon in a letter addressed to his clients and friends.

“He is a good person who has done a good job as State Representative from that area,” he adds.

But Lyon isn’t just any trial lawyer, he’s been a heavy funder of Democrat politicians across Texas. According to campaign finance reports, Lyon has given tens of thousands of dollars to liberal Democrat lawmakers in the Texas Legislature in just the past few years. And in September of 2016, Lyons gave $5,000 to the Dallas County Democratic PAC and $1,000 to the Texas Democratic Party.

Lyons even donated $1,000 to Democrat Victoria Neave as she campaigned against Republican State Rep. Ken Sheets (Dallas) and narrowly ousted him by less than 900 votes.

So why is Lyons supporting Lance Gooden who claims to be a “conservative Republican aligned with President Trump.”

Perhaps because Gooden’s record doesn’t exactly match his rhetoric.

First elected to the Texas House in 2012, Gooden began his legislative career with an underwhelming allegiance to the status quo. Dispatched in 2014 by conservative challenger Stuart Spitzer, Gooden won back his seat in 2016 and returned to the House as one of the chamber’s most liberal Republican lawmakers.

In the most recent session of the Texas Legislature, Gooden earned a dismal 42 on the Fiscal Responsibility—only marginally better than Democrat Joe Pickett of El Paso who earned a 36.

After US Congressman Jeb Hensarling announced he would not seek re-election to the US House, Gooden decided to forego another re-election rematch against Spitzer and run for Congress instead, joining a crowded field of eight candidates competing for Texas’ Fifth Congressional District.

Gooden finished first in the Republican Primary election in March of this year but failed to win the seat outright. He currently faces Republican fundraiser Bunni Pounds in the runoff election.

Texans for Fiscal Responsibility has made no endorsement in the race, but Pounds has been endorsed by the Kaufman Tea Party, the Club for Growth, Vice President Mike Pence, and Texas Right to Life.

Election Day is Tuesday, May 22.

Cary Cheshire

Cary Cheshire is the executive director of Texans for Strong Borders, a no-compromise non-profit dedicated to restoring security and sovereignty to the citizens of the Lone Star State. For more information visit StrongBorders.org.

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