HOUSTON – The financial support Republican Matt Morgan received from storm attorneys leading up to the March 3 primary wasn’t quite enough to push him over the top in the race for Texas House District 26.
Morgan, a public adjuster licensed in Texas, Georgia and Colorado, fell short by less than one percent, capturing 7,983 votes for 49.7 percent of the total vote. He will face Jacey Jetton, who bagged 6,532 votes, in a runoff election in May.
As previously reported, several notable trial lawyers who specialize in suing insurance companies have donated thousands of dollars to Morgan.
From July to December, Morgan raised around $19,000 – $12,000 of which was supplied by just four contributors:
- Benjamin Crowell, a former Speights and Worrich attorney ($6,000);
- Houston attorney Chad Wilson ($2,500);
- Kenneth Home, a Chad T. Wilson Law Firm employee ($2,500); and
- Storm attorney Jesse Corona ($1,000).
Morgan previously told The Record that the attorneys are his friends and that he's known them for years.
In February, Morgan also reported a $5,000 in-kind political contribution from storm attorney Eric Dick, campaign finance records show.
In the two months leading up to the primary, Morgan raised more than $14,500. He’ll head into the runoff with nearly that much cash on hand.
Morgan’s opponent, Jetton, holds a significant financial edge over him and has been endorsed by several notable Texas politicians, including Gov. Greg Abbott and U.S. Congressman Pete Olson.
In 2019, Jetton raised more than $52,000. In the first three weeks of January, he raised $27,140. From Jan. 24 through Feb. 24, Jetton netted more than $88,000 in contributions.
Some of Jetton’s major contributors include:
- Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC ($25,000);
- Anil Reddy, owner of Genie Solutions ($10,000);
- Glucklich LLC ($5,000);
- Texas Charter Schools Now PAC ($2,500);
- TEXPAC ($1,500);
- Phillips 66 PAC ($1,000.66); and
- Centerpoint Energy PAC ($1,000).