Trial lawyers shift to back Texas MAGA Republicans, reshaping GOP power base
Personal-injury attorneys are now funding and running as Republicans in Texas, challenging the business-first GOP that once opposed them.
The election of personal-injury lawyer Armin Mizani to the GOP primary in north Texas signaled a broader shift as trial lawyers pour money into MAGA-styled campaigns, notably supporting Ken Paxton’s Senate bid. Historically tied to Democratic politics, the Texas Trial Lawyers Association now sponsors GOP events and funds candidates who claim to champion everyday Texans against big insurers. This trend undermines the long-standing alliance between Texas Republicans and Texans for Lawsuit Reform, whose tort-reform agenda recently faltered.
New Republican officeholders such as Marc LaHood and Mitch Little, some with plaintiff-side backgrounds, have already blocked TLR-backed legislation. Meanwhile, groups like RATLR and the Texas Trial Lawyers Association are vying for influence at the state convention, while TLR leadership seeks to reposition itself as a nonpartisan advocate for fair courts.
Why it matters
The alliance reshapes Texas politics, potentially reversing decades of tort-reform and affecting how ordinary Texans can seek compensation.
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