Henry Splits $2 Million Among Texas Democrats

Thomas J. Henry, who previously backed Republican Ken Paxton, has now directed $2 million to Democratic candidates in Texas.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Political Parties

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a classical state capitol dome in cream against a deep red field, evoking Texas political power. — Thomas J. Henry split $2 million among Texas Democratic candidates, including $1 million for Gina Hinojosa's campaign for governor, after backing Ken Paxton in the Republican primary. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Thomas J. Henry split $2 million among Texas Democratic candidates, including $1 million to Gina Hinojosa's campaign for governor. The move follows his earlier $600,000 super PAC effort supporting Ken Paxton in the Republican primary.

Why it matters

Henry's reversal shows how a single high-dollar donor can shift resources between parties in a closely watched Texas election cycle. Early polls place the governor and U.S. Senate races within the margin of error, making large contributions especially consequential for Texas voters.

Henry's $2 million in Democratic giving is more than three times the $600,000 he spent backing Paxton in the Republican primary. The distribution of the remaining $1 million among other candidates has not been detailed in the available reporting.

The players

Thomas J. Henry

A San Antonio attorney and Texas political donor who had been largely inactive for about a decade before backing Ken Paxton.

Gina Hinojosa

A Texas Democratic candidate for governor who received $1 million from Henry's contribution.

James Talarico

A Texas Democrat running in the U.S. Senate race who met with Henry before receiving his public endorsement.

Ken Paxton

A Texas Republican who ran in the GOP primary and whom Henry initially supported through a super PAC.

The details

Henry said he backed Paxton to oust U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, whom he described as having served too long, but he changed course after Paxton declined to debate Cornyn. After meeting James Talarico, Henry publicly backed Talarico in October before announcing the $2 million split over the weekend before November 2, 2026.

2016: Henry backed Hillary Clinton for president.
October 2026: Henry publicly announced his backing for James Talarico.
Weekend before November 2, 2026: Henry announced the $2 million split among Democratic candidates.

Political Context

Henry's pattern of supporting Hillary Clinton in 2016 before backing Paxton and then switching to Democrats in 2026 shows a donor moving between parties over time. Henry said his reversal followed a debate dispute between Paxton and Cornyn and his own review of Paxton's positions.

Voters in Texas will see these contributions reflected in campaign advertising and candidate resources in the governor and U.S. Senate races. Those shifts could affect which messages reach voters in the final weeks before the election.

The takeaway

Large donor shifts can change how resources flow between parties in close races, so following campaign finance reports offers a clearer view of where money is going. Checking those filings before an election helps voters see the backing behind candidates.