Contest for Irving's City Council seat heads to a runoff; two other races experience close outcomes in elections characterized by significant Political Action Committee involvement.

The Lowdown on Irving's City Council Runoff

Things are heating up in Irving, Texas! The dust has settled from last Saturday's election, and three races are heading for a runoff. Among them is the fiercely contested citywide Place 2 seat, where Sergio Porres and David Pfaff will duke it out in June.

Sergio Porres, backed by the Families for Irving PAC, and lifelong Irving resident David Pfaff are the frontrunners, but neither managed to secure a majority. The Families for Irving PAC, with its principles revolving around "traditional family values," school choice, and supporting single-family housing, is a formidable force in this race.

In a surprising twist, an organization called the Lone Star Conservative Action Fund (LSCAF) threw its hat into the ring. The LSCAF, a 501(c)(4) organization, pumped approximately $93,000 into campaign signs and text messages for Pfaff and other candidates opposed by the Families for Irving PAC. It's important to note that such classified organizations can keep their donors under wraps.

The LSCAF is led by Aaron De Leon, who also owns and heads Leon Strategies. This consulting firm has lent its services to Republican campaigns and the Texans for Opportunity and Prosperity PAC, which has received substantial funds from the Las Vegas Sands Corporation. In early 2022, Las Vegas Sands sought a zoning change in Irving to allow for a mixed-use development with a casino element.

While the Families for Irving PAC does not officially voice its stance on casino gaming, its candidates, including Porres, have been vocal in their opposition to such projects. Porres argues that bringing casinos to Irving would drastically alter the city's character, hurting the middle class and undermining local autonomy.

Meanwhile, Pfaff insists he's unaware of the LSCAF and their backing, stating that no one on his team collaborated with them. Regarding the casino issue, Pfaff maintains it's not an immediate concern for the city, but he supports giving the Irving citizens the final say when the time comes.

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The citywide Place 2 seat in Irving's City Council runoff will pit Sergio Porres, endorsed by the Families for Irving PAC, against David Pfaff, a lifelong Irving resident, in June.
The Lone Star Conservative Action Fund (LSCAF), a 501(c)(4) organization, invested roughly $93,000 in campaign signs and text messages for Pfaff and candidates opposed by the Families for Irving PAC during the runoff.
Aaron De Leon, head of Leon Strategies, leads the LSCAF, which has worked with Republican campaigns and the Texans for Opportunity and Prosperity PAC, which has received significant funds from the Las Vegas Sands Corporation.
In early 2022, the Las Vegas Sands Corporation sought a zoning change in Irving to allow for a mixed-use development with a casino element, a stance that Porres, a candidate endorsed by the Families for Irving PAC, strongly opposes.
Pfaff, one of the frontrunners in the runoff, claims to be unaware of the LSCAF and their backing, stating that nobody on his team collaborated with them, and he supports giving Irving citizens the final say on casino issues when they emerge.