What is THE BIG LIE in HD64?
Andy Hopper has been telling voters in Denton & Wise County for weeks that he is not behind the attack pieces filling up Republican voter mailboxes. Finance reports from the Texas Ethics Commission tell a different story.
Andy Hopper has received more than $160,000 over the past two campaign cycles from the same SuperPACs that are funded by a pair of West Texas billionaires. These MegaDonors are using dark money to fund the attacks on Dr. Stucky through a collection of PACs all controlled by the same SuperPAC: Texas United for a Conservative Majority, formerly known as Defend Texas Liberty.
Dr. Stucky is fighting THE BIG LIE by sharing with voters how Andy Hopper is hiding behind his MegaDonors in order to attack Dr. Stucky with blatant political smear campaigns and lies about his record.
The truth is these “cut & paste” PACs use the same attack pieces across Texas in races where they are challenging Republicans, many of whom have delivered some of the most Conservative laws in Texas history. Andy Hopper is supported by this PAC, which is backing some candidates with a questionable background.
TUCM is also directly tied to disgraced former state Rep. Bryan Slaton, who was expelled from office after if was revealed he allegedly served his 19-year-old intern alcohol, had sex with her, and other disturbing allegations. Here is Hopper with Bryan Slaton before the legislation session where Slaton was expelled:
Andy Hopper, right, with disgraced former state Rep. Bryan Slaton before Slaton was expelled from office for allegedly giving one of his 19-year-old interns alcohol and pressuring her into having sex with him. Hopper is funded by the same SuperPAC that supported Slaton's campaign and work in the legislature.
Did you know that Andy Hopper has been advocating for a year to lower the drinking age to 18 – which would allow high schoolers across Texas to be able to buy alcohol? That seems like a questionable policy position to take, given Hopper’s close relationship with Slaton.
This isn’t Hopper's only disturbing connection through TUCM/Defend Texas Liberty. Hopper is also endorsed by Kyle Biedermann, who has recently come under fire for his defense of Slaton’s actions. Biedermann is among those like Slaton who received regular A ratings from Texas Scorecard/Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, another group funded by TUCM/Defend Texas Liberty MegaDonors Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks.
Governor Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick have issued public statements distancing themselves from Biedermann. Hopper remains silent on these comments and actions from one of his biggest endorsements.
These are just some of the troubling characters that Hopper has chosen to associate with while hiding behind the dark money SuperPACs that are attacking Dr. Stucky. Another Hopper endorsement comes from a pastor who was accused of engaging in inappropriate online activities with students at a middle school where he was a substitute teacher.
It has never been reported that Hopper has engaged in any of these behaviors. But his pursuit of these endorsements and associations shows a lack of judgment and character. Andy Hopper can no longer hide behind THE BIG LIE.
Is this the type of representation you want in Austin?
This graphic by Transparent Texas Project shows the direction of money flowing from donors to SuperPACs and their consultants. This web of dark money makes up the larger empire created by a group of West Texas billionaires who have been attempting to take over the Texas Legislature for more than a decade. The SuperPACs are fueling the attacks on Dr. Stucky’s campaign that have flooded mailboxes in recent weeks.