Senator Joe Manchin is coming to Texas to raise Republican-backed fundraising

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WASHINGTON – West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin – one of the main Democratic opponents of efforts to pass federal voting rights legislation – is expected to travel to Texas on Friday for a fundraiser with a host committee that includes several wealthy Republican donors.

The fundraising comes just a day after Manchin met House Democrats from Texas on Capitol Hill who are desperate for his support for congressional efforts that could preempt a statewide Republican push to pass bills that would restrict access to voting for Texans.

Manchin is also one of two Democratic senators, along with Kirsten Sinema of Arizona, who have proven to be obstacles to moving voting rights legislation to the US Senate. At the heart of the impasse is their opposition to removing or changing the block, which would require 60 senators to put a bill to the floor.

“We invite you to join us for a special evening in support of our friend, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin,” according to the cover letter of the invitation, which continued to call Manchin “an old friend since he was Governor of West Virginia.”

The host committee includes giants from the Texas oil and gas industry – many of whom donate almost exclusively to Republicans. But there is a prominent Democrat among the hosts: former Houston Mayor Bill White. White was the Democratic candidate for governor in 2010.

A fundraising call for US Senator Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, obtained by The Texas Tribune. credit: screenshot

Manchin is the chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, the most powerful platform on Capitol Hill when it comes to oil and gas policy. He will be re-elected in 2024.

Hosts include oil-rich people such as Jeff Hildebrand, who co-founded energy company Hilcorp, and Richard Kinder, co-founder of Kinder Morgan, an energy infrastructure company. He appointed former Texas Governor Rick Perry Hildebrand to the University of Texas Board of Regents for a six-year term beginning in 2013.

The fundraiser will take place late Friday afternoon in the River Oaks area of ​​Houston, one of Texas’ wealthiest neighborhoods. An invitation obtained by The Texas Tribune encouraged donors to contribute $5,800 to Manchin’s re-election campaign and $5,000 to lead his PAC. Organizers expect more than 150 people to attend, according to a source familiar with the event.

Manchin’s office did not respond to requests for comment.

Many of the hosts are prolific donors to former GOP candidates, including former President Donald Trump, organizations such as the Texas Republican Party, the Republican National Committee, state parties, GOP candidates across the country and Republicans in the US Senate and House leadership. The hosts also contributed to the efforts of Governor Greg Abbott, First Lieutenant Dan Patrick, and House Speaker Dad Phelan.

However, some of these donors have made occasional contributions to moderate Democrats or serve on committees that oversee the energy sector. Energy is the main driver of Houston’s economy.

Some of the Democrats who have received these donations over the years include U.S. Representative Lizzie Bannell Fletcher, a West Houston congressman who serves on the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee, former U.S. Senators Max Baucus of Montana and Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and former U.S. Representative Dan Lipinki of Montana. Illinois.

“We’re basically getting some people together to show our support,” said Darren Blanton, a Republican donor who planned the event.

He fell back on the idea that this was an entirely Republican event.

“Only people respect and support him,” he said.

Democrats traveled to Washington, D.C., on Monday in an effort to break a quorum for the House of Representatives and prevent the Republican Party’s priority voting bill from passing.

During their time in Washington this summer, Manchin and his staff have been receptive to the state’s Democratic legislative and congressional delegations, holding meetings with Texas in June and this week. Texas Democrats interviewed after a June meeting praised Manchin for receptiveness to their arguments.

They pledged to stay out of Texas until the special legislative session ends on August 6, but Abbott said he will continue to call for special sessions until the bill is passed.

Democrats said they chose the nation’s capital in order to largely dismantle them so they could urge Congress to take federal action, given that Republicans have majorities in both houses of the legislature and are willing to advance their priorities.

Carla Studio contributed to this report.

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