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Pay-to-Play? $950M No-Bid Contracts Linked to Abbott Donors

9/25/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Public Citizen's report finds no-bid contracts awarded to donors to Governor Greg Abbott's political action committee (PAC) from 2020-2024, totaling $950 million.
Gothams LLC received $66 million in contracts after donating $600,000 to Abbott's PAC; the PAC donors totaled $2.9 million.
Attorney Andrew Cates calls timing pay-to-play; Public Citizen seeks stricter rules, banning no-bid contracts for high-donation firms and transparency.

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Story summary

Public Citizen's report finds no-bid contracts awarded to donors to Governor Greg Abbott's political action committee (PAC) from 2020-2024, totaling $950 million.
Gothams LLC received $66 million in contracts after donating $600,000 to Abbott's PAC; the PAC donors totaled $2.9 million.
Attorney Andrew Cates calls timing pay-to-play; Public Citizen seeks stricter rules, banning no-bid contracts for high-donation firms and transparency.