Senator Joe Manchin comes to Texas for Republican-backed fundraiser

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WASHINGTON – West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin – a key Democratic obstacle to efforts to push through federal voting rights legislation – is expected to travel to Texas on Friday for a fundraiser with a host committee that includes several wealthy donors republicans.

The fundraiser comes just a day after Manchin met with Texas House Democrats on Capitol Hill, who are desperately seeking his support for Congressional efforts that could anticipate statewide GOP pressure to pass bills that would restrict access to the vote for Texans.

Manchin is also one of two Democratic senators, along with Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, who have proven to be obstacles to the passage of voting rights legislation by the US Senate. At the center of the stalemate is their opposition to removing or changing the filibuster, which forces 60 senators to table a bill.

“We invite you to join us for a special evening in favor of our friend, US Senator Joe Manchin,” according to the cover letter of the invitation, which then referred to Manchin as “a long-time friend from his days as governor of West Virginia “.

The host committee includes titans of 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 2010 Democratic candidate for governor.

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

Among the hosts are oil billionaires like Jeff Hildebrand, who co-founded energy company Hilcorp, and Richard Kinder, co-founder of Kinder Morgan, an energy infrastructure company. Former Texas Governor Rick Perry appointed Hildebrand to the University of Texas board of trustees for a six-year term starting in 2013.

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

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

Many hosts are prolific donors to former GOP candidates, including former President Donald Trump, and to organizations like the Texas Republican Party, the Republican National Committee, States Parties, GOP candidates across the country. and Republicans in the US Senate and House leadership. . The hosts also contributed Governor Greg Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and Speaker of the House Dade Phelan.

Even so, some of these donors have made occasional contributions to Democrats who are either moderates or members of committees overseeing the energy sector. Energy is a key driver of Houston’s economy.

Some of the Democrats over the years who receive these donations include U.S. Representative Lizzie Pannill Fletcher, Congresswoman from West Houston who sits on the U.S. Energy and Trade Committee, former U.S. Senator Max Baucus from Montana and Mary Landrieu. from Louisiana and former United States Representative Dan Lipinksi of Illinois.

“Basically, we’re just bringing people together to show our support,” said Darren Blanton, a Republican donor who had planned to attend the event.

He rejected the idea that this was an entirely Republican event.

“They are just people who respect and support him,” he said.

Democrats flew to Washington, DC on Monday in an attempt to break the House quorum and prevent passage of the GOP priority vote bill.

While in Washington this summer, Manchin and his team have been receptive to the state’s Democratic legislative and congressional delegations, taking meetings with Texans in June and this week. Texas Democrats polled after a meeting in June praised Manchin for being receptive to their arguments.

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

Democrats have said they have chosen the nation’s capital for their decamping largely so they can urge Congress to take federal action, given that Republicans have a majority in both houses of the legislature and are ready to advance their priorities.

Carla Astudillo contributed to this report.