SAN ANGELO – The very public and bitter split over school choice and vouchers in the Republican Party of Texas has special interest groups spending millions of dollars in the Lone Star state, a large sum right here in San Angelo, attacking state legislators including Drew Darby, who did not vote for their cause.
Alexandria, VA bases AFC Victory Fund has mailed a full page color direct mail attack ad to Republican voters in Texas House District 72 which Darby represents.
The AFCVF mailer says, "For Representative Darby, the truth is a hard pill to swallow. 85.6% of Republican voters in HD-72 want school choice for their children, but Drew Darby worked WITH liberal unions to block Governor Abbott's top priority..."
Darby's mailer says, "Drew Darby lets his conservative record speak for itself....Defended our Rural Schools. Blocked a harmful voucher scheme that would defund our rural public schools and cost taxpayers over $2 billion."
Darby has been endorsed for reelection by Congressmen August Pfluger and Jodey Arrington, the Texas Alliance for Life PAC, the NRA, and the Texas Farm Bureau AGFund.
The AFCVF doesn't endorse Darby's opponent or even mention he has one in the March 5, 2024 GOP primary.
Darby has been a staunch conservative and supporter of Governor Abbott and the RPOT agenda until splitting with the leadership over vouchers. This move from out of state PACs could be seen as a hidden slight from the governor for San Angelo House District and its representative in the Texas House.
Some local GOP activists are supporting Darby's opponent on social media. The split is reflective of the political chaos in Washington and Austin and that has now spilled over into local politics.
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