|
TLR Says LaHood Sold Out to Trial Lawyers
after Changing His Private Practice Specialty
Capitol Inside
November 3, 2025
The Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC pitched his support behind San Antonio realtor David McArthur for the Texas House on Tuesday in a move that was widely expected
in a bid to oust rookie State Rep. Marc LaHood in the GOP primary election as payback for his role in the killing of the group's priority legislation during the spring.
TLR focussed on the incumbent in House District 121 in a press release that it posted on X - portraying LaHood as a closet Democrat who'd specialized in criminal defense law before selling out to trial lawyers during his debut in the House this year in regular session.
LaHood "repeatedly sided with his trial lawyer donors to obstruct commonsense lawsuit reforms that protect Texas families, job creators, and taxpayers," the TLR PAC said in the social media message that began with a plug for McArthur.
The lawsuit reform group contended that LaHood "switched his focus" in private practice as an attorney from defending criminals to personal injury law" in February. TLR contended that LaHood had "little training or skill" in the civil arena representing plaintiffs in pursuit of damages. But the TLR committee said LaHood accepted $1 million in campaign donations from trial lawyers and their allies in the wake of the career change.
LaHood reported contributions of $1.27 million in the final 10 days in June after a moratorium on fundraising during a regular session expired. The lion's share of the campaign cash came courtesy of trial lawyers in the Alamo City and other cities across the state.
TLR accused LaHood of sabatoging the group's agenda when he voted for one priority bill that trial lawyers opposed before vanishing from a committee hearing in a move that prevented a second from an affirmative vote. LaHood had a pivotal role in the burial of the group's most coveted measure as a member of a conference committee during the final weekend of the regular session.
But trial lawyers had another vote on the negotiating panel with freshman Republican State Rep. Mitch Little of Lewisville - and they arguably owed the most significant debt of gratitude to House Speaker Dustin Burrows for setting the proposal up to fail with the conferees he appointed.
But TLR has appeared to be giving Burrows and Little a proverbial pass on re-election challenges up to now like the group's leaders have under way with McArthur in HD 121. While TLR has shared its cash with Democrats on a more limited basis, the targeting of an incumbent Republican by the organization is extremely rare.
The TLR statement gave McArthur lip service while concentrating on LaHood. TLR Vice-ChaIrman Emerson Hankamer praised McArthur has a "lifelong Texan, conservative businessman, and devoted family man" with a "proven record of service" to the local community and the state. McArthur's resume includes service as a member of the board for the Texas Department of Public Safety Foundation.
The lawsuit reform group claimed that LaHood had been a Democrat before he ran for Bexar County district attorney as a Republican in 2021.
TLR said LaHood had been a criminal lawyer for 17 years with "no real experience" in other legal areas. The group showcased a five and six digit donations that LaHood
accepted from a half-dozen firms that specialize in personal injury cases less than two weeks after the bill died in the conference committee. more to come ...
| 
