Not all PACs are created equal. There are Federal PACs, Federal Super PACs, Texas GPACs, Texas MPACs, Texas SPACs and others. They all operate under different rules.
A Texas GPAC has to file income and expense reports with the Texas Ethics Commission (TEC) every January 15 and July 15. If it’s an election year and they have involvement on behalf of a candidate or issue, they have to file 30-day prior and 8-day prior (to the election) reports. And, subject to certain dollar amounts, a GPAC must file daily reports for receipts and expenditures “during the Daily reporting period”.
A Texas SPAC is like a GPAC, but is focused solely on one issue. Fundraising and expenses are restricted to that issue. Only state-wide issues are reported to Texas Ethics. All others are reported locally.
A Texas PAC can choose to file monthly with the Texas Ethics Commission. They become an MPAC. Here’s where it gets shady. MPACs have to file monthly but don’t have to do the 30-day and 8-day prior reports. They do have to report receipts and expenditures over certain amounts daily for the 9 days prior to an election. That’s election day, not the beginning of early voting.
For example: February is the month before the March 3 primary. MPAC reports aren’t due until March 5, after the election. And, unless the expense (think mailing) is paid for during the 9 day prior reporting period, voters will not even be able to see that expenditure until after the election.
WHO’S PAYING FOR THE MAILERS?
In Stan Gerdes’ case, the following MPACs who sent mailers are monthly reporters: Texas Realtors Political Action Committee, AFC Victory Fund, and Texas Conservative Fund.
Supporting Federal PACs include Alliance for Children and American Energy Action Fund. Their data is available at OpenSecrets.org.
The following are GPACs that have sent mailers for Gerdes: Protect and Serve Texas PAC, Texas Action PAC, Alliance of Texans for Conservative Leadership PAC.
Candidates spend a lot of money with consultants to manage all this. So….
FOLLOW THE MONEY
Stan Gerdes has spent one MILLION dollars with a consulting firm called Murphy Nasica & Associates from January 11, 2022 through the end of 2024. That’s $1,001,502.91 for consulting and advertising in just 3 years according to TEC records. For 2025 into 2026, the consulting firm is Catalyst Advisors Group. They’ve been paid more than $60,000 in that time.
More than 125 PACs have donated money to Gerdes totaling more than $800,000 in the 4 years since he first ran for the legislature. That doesn’t count contributions from TX House Speaker Dustin Burrows of $38,800 or the $164,000+ from past-Speaker Dade Phelan after voting for each of them for Speaker.
Money, money, money. And all this for a position that pays just $7,200 annually. Again, it’s all legal. But don’t you wonder why so much money is involved for a position in a legislature that meets every other year?
My advice: voter be aware, and beware, when casting your vote.