Pictured are (clockwise, from top left) Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, state Sen. Dan Patrick, state Rep. Dan Branch and state Sen. Ken Paxton.
Pictured are (clockwise, from top left) Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, state Sen. Dan Patrick, state Rep. Dan Branch and state Sen. Ken Paxton. Michael Stravato / Daniel Kramer / Callie Richmond

Since the March 4 primary, Empower Texans’ political action committee has put more money behind state Sens. Ken Paxton and Dan Patrick, both of whom are in primary runoff races for statewide office.

The PAC, run by activist Michael Quinn Sullivan, gave both Paxton and Patrick $100,000, according to a campaign finance report filed with the Texas Ethics Commission. The PAC also reported $610,650 in contributions, with $600,000 coming from Midland oilman Tim Dunn. Dunn chairs the related Empower Texans Foundation and has long served as the PAC’s leading benefactor.

The large donations are just the latest support the PAC is providing to Patrick and Paxton, who are running for lieutenant governor and attorney general, respectively. Last year, the PAC gave $275,000 each to the two state senators’ campaign funds.

Aman Batheja was a political reporter and editor for the Tribune from 2012 to 2019. Previously he worked for eight years at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, most of that time covering state and local politics....