After losing the Republican primary, Glenn Rogers, R-Graford, blasted the Texas government, saying it was “the most corrupt ever,” and called Paxton a “criminal” and Abbott a “liar.”
After the election, Rogers submitted a column to the Weatherford newspaper accusing Gov. Greg Abbtt of spreading lies about him for not supporting school vouchers and saying that Attorney General Ken Paxton is a “corrupt, sophisticated criminal.”
He lost to Mike Olcott in the primary, 63% to 37%. Olcott was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, Abbott, Paxton, and other prominent Republicans.
Rogers called the current Texas government the “most corrupt ever” and that it was “‘bought’ by a few radical dominionist billionaires seeking to destroy public education, privatize our public schools and create a Theocracy.”
“History will prove that our current state government is the most corrupt ever,” Rogers continued, and is “bought” by a few radical dominionist billionaires seeking to destroy public education, privatize our public schools and create a Theocracy.”
In an interview with the Dallas Morning News’ Watchdog, Rogers said that billionaires Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks are the most powerful men in Texas politics. These billionaires, according to Rogers, manipulate state leaders and that they’re seeking a compliant House.
According to Texas Monthly, Dunn is the largest single source of campaign money in the state, with the Defend Texas Liberty PAC, to which he has given at least $9.85 million since 2022. The candidates he funds often target incumbents who don’t align with his far-right political agenda.
To Rogers, these billionaires have gained control over Republicans through intimidation and the fear of a well-founded primary opponent.
“That’s the corruption I’m talking about. The fear of a primary. The fear of taking a vote that you know is the right vote but is going to lower your scorecard rating. If it’s taken away that you can’t go to Austin and vote [for] your district – which is what’s happening – that’s a travesty,” he said. “We’re not elected to go support two billionaire sugar daddies.”
Rogers is not the first Republican to speak out against Republican leaders and billionaires targeting incumbents. In February, Rep. Jared Patterson (R-Frisco) wrote that Republican primary challengers founded by billionaires were lying to voters. Patterson was targeted for voting to impeach Paxton and for voting to support vouchers, but he recognized that his rural colleagues who opposed vouchers were being targeted.
