While Gov. Greg Abbott has taken the extraordinary action of endorsing against liberal Republican incumbent lawmakers in the March 6th primary, his campaign treasurer is working to undermine his efforts behind the scenes.
In November of last year, Abbott stunned the Austin establishment and energized conservative activists when he boldly endorsed Susanna Dokupil against the pro-abortion State Rep. Sarah Davis (R–West University Place), calling her a “Wendy-Davis look-alike” at a recent fundraiser and stating that he needed leaders like Dokupil to pass his conservative agenda in Austin.
Recent finance reports show one person on the governor’s team doesn’t share that goal.
John Nau III, Abbott’s campaign treasurer, donated $5,000 in January to Davis’ campaign, openly defying Abbott and his goal to hold obstructionist lawmakers accountable.
But Nau isn’t just breaking with the governor to support Davis, he’s also backing another liberal lawmaker that Abbott is asking Republican voters to retire from the Texas Legislature this March.
Despite Abbott’s endorsement of businessman Mayes Middleton in his campaign against State Rep. Wayne Faircloth (R–Dickinson) in January, Nau chipped in $5,000 to Faircloth’s campaign.
Nau serves as the President and CEO of Silver Eagle Distributors, the nation’s largest distributor of Anheuser-Busch products. During the last legislative session, large beer distributors successfully lobbied to pass House Bill 3287, legislation that created additional regulations and mandates designed to burden small brewers.
With Nau’s decision to break from the governor on his endorsed candidates, observers may wonder how committed he is to Abbott’s conservative agenda.
