Two members of the UT System Board of Regents donated about $1.5 million to Gov. Greg Abbott’s reelection campaign using personal funds, making up more than 90% of the board’s total donations of $1.6 million, according to Texas Ethics Commission filings.
The governor’s election plays a key role in the oversight of Texas universities since the governor appoints the Board of Regents that oversees UT and the 12 other academic and health institutions in the system. The board oversees tuition strategy, approves academic programs, can hire or fire university presidents, approve tenure appointments and supervises campus growth for many Texas universities.
The regents’ personal donations support Abbott, who appoints members to the board as governor. The winner of the Nov. 3 gubernatorial election between Abbott and state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin, will appoint three regents when the terms of board chair Kevin Eltife, Stuart Stedman and Nolan Perez end in February.
Stedman is one of two members who donated 90% of the board’s total contributions to Abbott’s campaign. Stedman donated $1 million, an increase from the $400,000 he donated during Abbott’s 2022 campaign. The other member, Kelcy Warren, donated $500,000, which is twice his 2022 contribution. Both Stedman and Warren are leaders in oil and gas companies.
The rest of the board gave significantly less. Five members of the board of regents reduced their donations from 2022. Christina Melton Crain, Robert Gauntt and Eltife did not donate this year, but contributed to the Abbott campaign in 2022. Vice Chairman Janiece Longoria and Nolan Perez donations decreased, while Jodie Lee Jiles’ contributions also stayed the same.
According to the Texas Ethics Commission, regents can donate personal funds to any candidate they wish, and Texas does not have a dollar limit on individual contributions to gubernatorial candidates.
The UT Board of Regents did not respond to a request for comment.
