TEXAS – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against Robert Francis “Beto” O’Rourke and his organization, Powered by People, alleging unlawful fundraising activities and a potentially misleading financial-influence scheme to support Democratic lawmakers who fled the state to break quorum.
According to Paxton’s office, O’Rourke and Powered by People are accused of soliciting donations under the guise of political fundraising, while allegedly using the funds to cover personal expenses for the Democratic legislators who left Texas in an effort to block Republican-backed legislation.
Recommended Videos
“Democrat runaways are likely accepting Beto Bribes to underwrite their jet-setting sideshow in far-flung places and misleadingly raising political funds to pay for personal expenses,” Paxton said in a statement. “This out-of-state, cowardly cabal is abandoning their constitutional duties. I will not allow failed political has-beens to buy off Texas elected officials. I’ll see you in court, Beto.”
The lawsuit claims O’Rourke and his group intentionally misled donors by directing them to political fundraising platforms while allegedly intending to use the money for personal expenditures. Paxton’s office argues that such actions violate Texas laws prohibiting false, misleading, and deceptive acts in fundraising.
Paxton is seeking a temporary restraining order and an injunction to prevent O’Rourke and Powered by People from continuing to raise or distribute money intended for the Democratic lawmakers. The attorney general’s office has also demanded documents from Powered by People and has opened an investigation into another group, reportedly funded by George Soros, that is supporting the quorum break.
O’Rourke responded in a statement on X.
They want to make examples out of those who fight so that others won't.
— Beto O'Rourke (@BetoORourke) August 8, 2025
Paxton is trying to shut down Powered by People, one of the largest voter registration organizations in the country, because our volunteers fight for voting rights and free elections… the kind of work that…
“They want to make examples out of those who fight so that others won’t. Paxton is trying to shut down Powered by People, one of the largest voter registration organizations in the country, because our volunteers fight for voting rights and free elections… the kind of work that threatens the hold that Paxton, Trump and Abbott have on power in Texas. In addition to helping register hundreds of thousands of voters, our members have volunteered in other important ways, including picking up thousands of shifts at Texas food banks. During Abbott’s electricity grid failure in 2021, we made more than a million calls to connect seniors to warming centers and safety. We also purchased nearly a million dollars in supplies for Texans abandoned by their elected officials who were too busy fleeing to Cancun or letting their gas pipeline donors steal billions in illegal profits while hundreds of Texans were dying. Now Paxton’s filed a restraining order to try to take us out of the fight. He wants to silence me and stop me from leading this organization. He wants to stop us from fighting Trump’s attempt to steal the five congressional seats he needs to hang on to power. But I’m not going anywhere. I plan on speaking at our rally to stop the power grab in Fort Worth tomorrow afternoon," the post said.
For more information and to read the full filing, visit the Texas Attorney General’s website.