Senate records appear to show that one Republican congressional candidate in West Texas lobbied against the Trump administration in 2017.

According to a 2017 second-quarter lobbying disclosure filing, 13th District Republican candidate Josh Winegarner was listed as having lobbied on behalf of the Texas Cattle Feeders Association to “support the continuation of NAFTA” and “to keep Trump administration from bringing back country-of-origin labeling.” 

President Trump has described the NAFTA agreement in the past as a “nightmare,” with issues like country-of-origin labeling generally considered a tenant of the administration’s “buy American” ideals. 

Winegarner is one of three lobbyists whose name was reported in this particular filing as having lobbied against the Trump administration on this particular issue. The filing also declared that the trio of lobbyists advocated to the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and the U.S. Trade Representative on this issue.

Winegarner is currently locked in a heated Republican primary runoff against Dr. Ronny Jackson, former Physician to the President and retired Navy rear admiral. Jackson has earned the endorsement of President Trump in the contest. 

While Winegarner’s record as a lobbyist has previously come under scrutiny in this campaign, this appears to be the first instance that Winegarner’s lobbying against the Trump administration has risen to voter interest.

Voters will decide this runoff election on July 14, with early voting beginning on June 29. 


Thomas Warren

Thomas Warren, III is the editor-in-chief of the Amarillo Pioneer newspaper in Amarillo, Texas.

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