A complaint has been lodged by a Houston attorney against Gene Wu, the Chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, claiming that he engaged in improper fundraising activities during livestreamed protests concerning redistricting.
A Houston attorney has filed an ethics complaint against state Rep. Gene Wu, D-Houston, for exploiting House floor livestreams to collect political donations during the redistricting impasse.
Attorney Mark McCaig, chairman of the Texas Republican Initiative, filed a complaint with the Texas Ethics Commission alleging Wu and the caucus broadcast Texas House hearings on social media while directing viewers to donation sites.
In the video, state Rep. Nicole Collier, D-Fort Worth, refused to comply with House Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, who ordered absent Democrats to return to the floor under DPS supervision. Collier shared defiance videos on social media, including a call with Vice President Kamala Harris, who advised her to “keep doing what you are doing.”
Text on the caucus broadcast encouraged viewers to “Support Rep. Collier” and linked to her campaign website, which redirects to ActBlue. Scrolling ticker: "Join the anti-redistricting fight! Resist Texas redistricting wherever! Visit RiggedRedistricting.com.”
Since the public cannot access the House floor, McCaig claims the video violated Texas election law by being political advertising. “Wu has access to the House floor as a State Representative,” the complaint says. The video stream leads to a Texas House Democratic Caucus fundraising website.
After receiving the complaint, the caucus added a statement to the livestream ticker that the fundraising appeal was “not intended for political advertising” and removed direct fundraising connections.
“What happened shows the Democrats’ political theater is about fundraising and not policy,” McCaig told The Center Square.
The argument comes as House Democrats fight Republican-led redistricting. Their absence during the first special session prevented congressional maps and flood relief from passing, forcing Burrows to seek civil arrest warrants. Greg Abbott ordered DPS troopers to bring absent members to the Capitol.
The House is stuck on redistricting and relief bills, while the Senate passed them on a bipartisan basis. Several Democrats tore up their permission forms to leave the chamber in protest.
