GREGORY (Kiii News) -
Governor Rick Perry made an appearance at a political rally for District 43 State Representative J.M. Lozano, who is locked into a run-off election with Bill Wilson.
But at Wednesday's rally, Lozano and the governor said Wilson was being backed by a Democrat supporter who is funneling the money in through a conservative sounding political action committee.
This is a unique battle as the governor is throwing his support behind Lozano, who was elected as the District 43 Representative as a Democrat. Now, he has switched parties and is claiming his fellow Republican and run-off opponent, Bill Wilson, is being backed by one of the president's financial supporters.
The rally was held inside of Bradley's Motors in Gregory. A good crowd was on hand as the governor made a stop to show his support for the Democrat turned Republican.
Lozano owns several Wingstops in the Alice area, and was elected as the District 43 State Representative in 2010. Then, he said he had a change of heart, and his values no longer matched up with the Democratic party. So he made the switch.
"The trial lawyers realize they can't beat me in November," Lozano said. "So they're helping my opponent in a Republican primary through a deceptively named PAC, Conservative Voters of Texas, which is operated by Steve Mostyn, a man who recently gave a million dollars to Barack Obama."
"The top funder for the Democrat Party," Perry said. "That's who's funding his opponent. Make no mistake about it. Don't get confused in any form or fashion."
Bill Wilson said he hasn't taken any money from Mostyn, and in fact, he said Lozano took a total of $50,000 from Mostyn to get elected in 2010. He said that in a run-off election, he has only raised $50,000, while Lozano has received $160,000.
"First off, I'm shocked the governor would make false statements like that in a public setting, for any reason or purpose," Wilson said. "And the truth of the matter is, I've never taken a nickel, a dime, a dollar of trial lawyer money, now or at anytime. And any statements to the contrary are false."
This Republican family fight is far from over. Election day is next Tuesday, so we have six more days to hear from the two sides.
