Republican Women's Group Linked to Transgender Text Campaign in Texas

Newly unsealed court records in Texas have identified the Republican Women's Caucus Fund as the organization allegedly behind a controversial text-message campaign concerning transgender children. The messages, which began on October 12, appeared to direct Texans to resources for transgender youth, including guides on school bathrooms and gender-affirming care. This development has emerged amidst a heated U.S. Senate race in Texas, where transgender issues have become a focal point.

The Republican Women's Caucus Fund, founded by Florida Republican Congresswoman Kat Cammack, was named alongside an individual identified as John Braun in a deposition from the messaging company Infobip, which reportedly sent the texts. The group has vehemently denied any involvement in the Texas campaign, issuing a statement on X asserting they "did not authorize, fund, direct, coordinate, or participate in these activities in any capacity." The organization stated it had been "wrongfully named" and vowed to pursue legal remedies.

In parallel, physical mailers also began arriving at Texas homes, appearing to be from an organization called the Texas Transgender Student Union. These pamphlets provided information for transgender, nonbinary, and questioning young people, including details on emancipation, and encouraged them to contact advocacy organizations if their parents were unsupportive. The mailers repeatedly referenced the Transgender Education Network of Texas (TENT), an LGBTQ+ advocacy group that insists it had no connection to the communications and has since reported receiving threats of violence.

U.S. Senator JD Vance drew sharp criticism for his reaction to the campaign. During a Fox News town hall in Fort Worth, Vance responded to a mother whose 11-year-old daughter reportedly received a text about transitioning. "I don't know who sent that letter to your child, but I think the person who sends a letter to an 11-year-old about gender transition, what I call that in my family is a pervert, and that person ought to go to prison," Vance stated. He further called such actions "sick and disgusting" and urged the Department of Justice to investigate.

The controversy intersects with the Texas Senate race, where Republican candidate Ted Cruz is running against Democrat Luke Merlina. Democrat James Talarico has faced attacks regarding his past comments defending transgender children. In 2023, Talarico voted against a Texas law restricting gender-affirming medical treatment for minors, which led to GOP attack ads. Talarico was quoted in a 2023 podcast appearance as saying he loved "the trans children who showed up yesterday at the state Capitol to advocate for their humanity."

A Travis County judge ordered the identities behind the communications to be revealed after TENT sought answers in court. According to the unsealed deposition, Infobip identified the Republican Women's Caucus Fund and John Braun as the clients behind the text campaign. It remains unclear if they were also responsible for the physical mailers.

The West Texas Republican District Attorney Sarah Stogner has opened a criminal investigation into the physical mailers over potential forgery. Republican Texas State Representative Jeff Leach had also requested an investigation into who was behind the materials.