George Soros, founder and chairman of the Open Society Foundations, donated $8.8 million to Texas Democratic political action committees and county parties during last year's campaign.

Texas state Rep. Jay Dean, R-Longview, at left, former Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, celebrate Texas state Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, winning the speakership during opening day of the 89th Texas Legislative Session in Austin on Jan. 14.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, left, and Gov. Greg Abbott, right, talk during a swearing-in ceremony.

Texas politics have always rotated around “bidness and the Bible.”

Typically, in that order.

In recent years, and during the Texas Legislature’s 89th Session, I have focused on how business leaders influence our elected officials and legislative process. Recently, readers have asked why I consistently highlight the enormous donations from Republicans and not Democrats.

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Honestly, if Democrats ever managed to do something besides lose elections, I promise, dear reader, I’d report on their relationship to wealth with equal fervor. However, the minority party has yet to muster any viable opposition to the ruling party, let alone exert influence on statewide issues, with the exception of choosing the Texas House Speaker on Tuesday.

Because so many people are worried about billionaires giving money to Democrats, however, allow me to expose how it compares, both in terms of size and influence, to Republican donations.

Between October 2023 and October 2024,........

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