Phillip
Huffines
Real estate developer Phillip Huffines, brother of Sen. Don Huffines (R-Dallas), was overwhelmingly elected chair of the Dallas Co. Republican Party during a meeting of precinct chairs tonight. He received 120 votes (76%), well more than his two rivals.
Huffines’s victory ensures the chairmanship remains in the hands of the more conservative wing of the county party. He succeeds Mark Montgomery, a Tea Party activist who spent $26 on his successful campaign to oust incumbent chair Wade Emmert. Montgomery resigned abruptly after just two months as chair.
While campaigning for chair, Huffines pledged to right the party’s finances and unify the party to fend off Democrats in November. Following his victory, Phillip Huffines tweeted:
As your @DallasGOP Chair, I will make sure we unite, fundraise, and defeat the Democrats! Let’s do this #DCRP
— Phillip Huffines (@PhillipHuffines) August 16, 2016
It is the only tweet posted to his account (Huffines joined Twitter earlier this month, following his campaign announcement.).
Phillip Huffines has contributed nearly $440K to candidates, PACs and political organizations since January 1, 2013. His brother Don’s campaign received just over $300K. Phillip Huffines gave $45K to the North Texas Conservative Coalition PAC and $25K to the Texans for the future PAC [sic]. The North Texas Conservative Coalition PAC funded direct mail supporting the primary challengers to Reps. Cindy Burkett (R-Sunnyvale) and Jason Villalba (R-Dallas). In 2014, the PAC supported Matt Rinaldi in his successful primary challenge against Rep. Bennett Ratliff.
Don Huffines also contributed $25K to the Texans for the future PAC, which was formed in February. That PAC’s expenditures exclusively benefitted Keith Strahan’s unsuccessful bid for the HD18 Republican nomination.
Phillip Huffines’ Political Donations Since 2013
$301,200 – Sen. Don Huffines (while challenging incumbent)
$45,000 – North Texas Conservative Coalition
$25,000 – Texans for the Future PAC
$15,000 – Atty. Gen. Ken Paxton
$10,000 – Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick
$8,000 – Rep. Jonathan Stickland
$5,900 – Sen. Konni Burton
$5,250 – Collin Co. Republican Party
$4,000 – Jess Fields (while challenging incumbent)
$3,000 – Rep. Matt Rinaldi ($2,000 while challenging incumbent)
$2,500 – Dawn Buckingham (SD24 open)
$2,000 –Thomas McNutt (while challenging incumbent), Coalition for a New Dallas, Dallas Co. Republican Party
$1,000 – Gov. Greg Abbott, Comp. Glenn Hegar, Sen. Bob Hall, Park Cities Republican Women’s Club PAC
$700 – Golden Corridor Republican Women
$500 – Dianne Edmondson, Sen. Charles Perry
$300 – Kaufman Co. Tea Party
$250 – Rep. Tan Parker, Rep. David Simpson, Chart Westcott (HD108 open)
$100 – Highland Park Community League
Phillip Huffines was considering challenging U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Dallas) in this year’s primary. He confirmed several days ago that we would not run against Sessions or “slate candidates” to run against Republican incumbents in the 2018 primary.
Several legislators tweeted their congratulations:
Huge congrats to @DallasGOP for electing conservative champion @PhillipHuffines . Look out @dallasdemocrats they are coming for you! #txlege
— Jonathan Stickland (@RepStickland) August 16, 2016
Congrats @PhillipHuffines, brother of @DonHuffines, on becoming new Dallas County Republican Chair! On to victory in November! #txlege
— Rodney Anderson (@rodneyanderson) August 16, 2016
Congratulations Chairman @PhillipHuffines. @DallasGOP
— Kenneth Sheets (@RepKenSheets) August 16, 2016
Congratulations, new @DallasGOP Chairman @PhillipHuffines! #KeepTexasRed
— Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) August 16, 2016
Congrats to @PhillipHuffines, the new Chair of @DallasGOP! Now let's unite to defeat the Dems & lead #DCRP to bigger wins than ever before.
— Don Huffines (@DonHuffines) August 16, 2016
Phillip Huffines is up for re-election as county chair in 2018, as is Sen. Huffines.
