Why We’re Researching Lobbying in Austin — and What Voters Deserve to Know

Dewey R. Collier
19 hours ago
2 min read

Voters across East Texas tell us the same thing again and again: it feels like Austin listens to insiders more than the people back home.

That concern isn’t abstract. It’s rooted in how lobbying works at the Capitol — who hires lobbyists, how political funds are used, and how clearly those relationships are disclosed to the public.

That’s why our campaign has been taking a hard look at lobbying in Austin and its impact on everyday voters.

How lobbying disclosure is supposed to work in Texas

Texas has a two-part disclosure system designed to promote transparency:

Lobbyists must report when they are paid or reimbursed using political funds.
Campaigns must report when they spend political funds, including payments to consultants or lobbyists.

These two reports are meant to match. That’s how voters can see, clearly and accurately, how campaign money is being used and who is being paid to influence government.

What we found while reviewing public records

While reviewing publicly available Texas Ethics Commission records as part of this broader research, we noticed a discrepancy worth explaining.

State records show that Rep. Cole Hefner’s campaign is listed as reimbursing a registered lobbyist in 2025. However, after reviewing Rep. Hefner’s 2025 campaign finance filings, the corresponding expenditure does not appear in those reports.

We are not drawing conclusions about intent. We are not alleging wrongdoing. We are simply pointing out that the public disclosures do not appear to reconcile.

Why this matters to voters

Campaign finance rules exist for one reason: so voters can follow the money.

When disclosures are unclear, incomplete, or inconsistent, it undermines trust — not just in one campaign, but in the entire system. Texans shouldn’t need a law degree or a spreadsheet to understand how political funds are being spent.