Following her underwhelming performance in Monday’s Iowa caucus, presidential candidate Nimrata “Nikki” Haley announced a slate of fundraisers next month in Texas.
NEW — @NikkiHaley is returning to Texas to raise money next month, per invites seen by @PuckNews.
Houston and Dallas on February 15.
San Antonio on February 16. pic.twitter.com/dMHRjVFyjj
— Teddy Schleifer (@teddyschleifer) January 12, 2024
According to the invitations, Haley will attend a series of fundraisers. On February 15, she will be in Houston and Dallas. On February 16, she will move on to San Antonio.
An examination of the host committees in the various cities reveals a number of problematic associations.
John Nau is the Campaign Treasurer for Texans for Greg Abbott—Gov. Greg Abbott’s political action committee for his campaign—and a longstanding donor to Abbott. However, the governor announced his endorsement of Donald Trump in November.
Nau is also the former chairman of the Texas Historical Commission. He played a prominent role in efforts to move the Alamo cenotaph during the 2010s. He also has a history of supporting gun control and amnesty for illegal aliens.
Mindy Elmer, a lobbyist, is the wife of State Rep. Charlie Geren (R-Fort Worth). In 2017 and 2021, Geren carried bills that critics alleged would benefit Elmer’s lobby clients.
Karen Rove is the wife of political consultant Karl Rove. Rove managed the political campaigns of former president George W. Bush and various Bush-connected candidates.
In addition to supporting Haley, the donors in question have longstanding ties to Associated Republicans of Texas and Texans for Lawsuit Reform. Both organizations have historically supported some of the most liberal members of the Texas Legislature.
The presence of the ART/TLR connection has led some to speculate that propping up Haley has more to do with Texas legislative primaries than the presidential race.
Crow, Nau, et al…the same establishment donors that fund the @TLRPAC/@ARTxPAC/@DadePhelan Austin blob are supporting Nikki Haley.
Haley has no chance of beating Trump, but perhaps the Austin blob knows that she will draw Democrats to the GOP primary to help their #txlege… https://t.co/idjZef0CnF
— Rolando Garcia (@rdgarcia03) January 16, 2024
Haley’s fundraisers will occur one week before the South Carolina primary and two and a half weeks before the Texas Primary Election on March 5.
