A former GOP candidate for the State Board of Education is fighting a lawsuit filed by his former campaign consultants, accusing them of misrepresenting their experience, promising donations that never materialized, and ultimately urging him to abandon his campaign.
Campaign Edge360 Corp. sued former SBOE District 9 candidate Stephen Yearout and his campaign committee earlier this year, seeking payment under a campaign consulting agreement that included a $65,000 management fee and other compensation.
Now, in a recently filed amended answer, Yearout denies the firm’s claims and lays out a lengthy account of what he describes as a dysfunctional campaign operation.
“Stephen Yearout’s interaction with Campaign Edge360 Corp was a disaster,” the answer states.
According to Yearout, Campaign Edge360 President Jackie Besinger and employee Lynn Davenport presented themselves as experienced campaign professionals and repeatedly assured him that fundraising would not be a problem despite his concerns about his ability to personally finance a campaign.
After reviewing the proposed consulting agreement, which included a $65,000 flat fee, Yearout says he told Davenport, “There’s no way I’d be able to come up with that.”
Davenport allegedly responded: “This is not about the money. We will get the money.”
Later that day, Davenport allegedly texted Yearout: “Pam Little called me and she’s willing to donate $50,000 if you’re the right candidate. I’m telling you. The money is gonna come.” Little is a sitting Republican member of the State Board of Education.
Yearout contends those representations were false and were used to induce him to sign the agreement.
He also alleges Besinger falsely represented herself as an experienced campaign consultant who had managed successful political campaigns, including that of former State Board of Education member Pam Little.
“There is no indication that Campaign Edge360 Corp has ever had any other client than Stephen Yearout,” the answer states. It further alleges that Besinger and Davenport were “political activists, operating a political action committee of sorts, and masquerading as a for-profit political consulting firm.”
Yearout argues that Davenport and Besinger were more focused on education-policy activism than campaign consulting.
Davenport has been a prominent opponent of school choice policies in Texas and has publicly supported Democrat gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa.
Among the more unusual allegations is a dispute over Yearout’s attempt to file for office.
According to the answer, Besinger instructed Yearout to travel to Austin and file his candidate paperwork at the Texas Secretary of State’s office. After arriving, Yearout says he was informed that SBOE candidates instead file through the Republican Party of Texas.
The filing alleges that Besinger then called the Travis County Republican Party—not the state party—for guidance and suggested that Yearout might be able to file online. After Yearout researched the matter himself and determined that online filing was not available, he located the Republican Party of Texas headquarters, only to discover the office was closed for Thanksgiving week.
According to the answer, Davenport responded that the situation sounded like “candidate suppression,” while Besinger allegedly blamed the closure on a conspiracy involving Texas GOP Chairman Abraham George and Gov. Greg Abbott that was intended to “move things slowly toward having a Democrat in charge.”
Yearout also describes repeated disagreements over the campaign’s website.
An information technology professional by trade, he alleges he found himself explaining web hosting, DNS services, and IP addresses to Besinger while efforts to launch the campaign website stalled.
“Throughout the calls, it was clear that Besinger had no familiarity with how websites functioned,” the answer alleges.
Yearout further claims that after discussions indicating a website could be built for approximately $160 using existing WordPress resources, Campaign Edge360 later sought $4,000 for website development.
The relationship allegedly deteriorated further as the campaign progressed.
According to Yearout, Besinger became increasingly critical of the dyslexia advocacy that motivated his candidacy and complained that people were concerned about supporting a candidate who “goes around crying about being dyslexic.”
He alleges Besinger instructed him to move away from that message despite it being central to his campaign.
Fundraising efforts also fell short of expectations, according to the answer.
Yearout alleges a December fundraiser generated only two contributions totaling $700 despite repeated assurances that major financial support was forthcoming. He also claims that when he finally met with Pam Little, she contributed $10,000 rather than the $50,000 he says he had been led to expect.
According to Yearout, the relationship came to an end during a January 2, 2026, Zoom meeting.
“I don’t think that we need to continue to move forward with this campaign,” Besinger allegedly told him. “I think that you need to withdraw.”
He further alleges Besinger later told him, “You have no value.”
Yearout ultimately withdrew from the race.
Yearout claims Little told him during a March conversation that she had never promised a $50,000 donation. Instead, he says she told him she had only discussed potentially funding a mail piece for the right candidate. He also alleges Little disputed suggestions that Besinger had run her previous campaigns.
Campaign Edge360’s lawsuit paints a markedly different picture of the relationship. The firm alleges it created campaign branding, website assets, donor communications, photographs, and other campaign materials, and helped generate donations, including a $10,000 contribution from Pam Little.
The company further alleges it spent more than 60 hours developing campaign website materials and was forced to correct issues caused by information supplied by Yearout.
The firm contends it terminated the relationship after Yearout failed to pay amounts due under the contract, failed to follow instructions, and resisted fundraising efforts.
In addition to filing the amended answer, Yearout has filed a motion under the Texas Citizens Participation Act seeking dismissal of Campaign Edge360’s lawsuit and recovery of attorney’s fees.
Campaign Edge360 did not respond to a request for comment before publication.
