Miriam Adelson, a prominent Republican megadonor and casino magnate, recently made a significant contribution of $1 million to a super PAC supporting the reelection of Senator Ted Cruz from Texas. The PAC, which has spent over $700,000 on Cruz’s campaign, had a total balance of $1.6 million as of May. It is important to note that this PAC is not officially part of Cruz’s reelection campaign.
Adelson, who along with her family co-owns Las Vegas Sands (LVS) and is the largest shareholder, has been actively supporting politicians in Texas who advocate for the opening of destination resort casinos in the state. She has donated over $4 million to various Texas politicians who share this goal, including Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan and Rep. John Kuempel.
In addition to her contributions to Cruz’s campaign, Adelson had also donated $1 million to the reelection campaign of Texas Governor Greg Abbott in 2022. Abbott, while cautious about casino legislation, has expressed willingness to explore professional entertainment options for Texans if they can be implemented without negative consequences.
It is worth mentioning that LVS, under the leadership of Adelson’s son-in-law Patrick Dumont, who is the president of the company and the governor of the Dallas Mavericks, has been actively lobbying for casino legislation in Texas. Despite owning the NBA team, Dumont has clarified that the decision to purchase the Mavericks was not directly related to gambling interests in the state.
The Adelson family, known for their significant contributions to Republican and conservative causes, donated over $218 million to such causes and politicians in 2019-2020. Although Miriam’s late husband, Sheldon Adelson, passed away in 2021, the family’s commitment to supporting like-minded politicians and causes remains strong.
While the University of Texas poll shows Cruz leading his Democratic opponent U.S. Rep. Colin Allred by 11 percentage points, the upcoming election is expected to be closely contested. Cruz, who raised over $9.7 million in the first quarter of 2024 from various sources, is facing a tough race as he seeks reelection.
As LVS continues to lobby for casino legislation in Texas, the role of wealthy donors like Adelson in shaping the political landscape of the state cannot be overlooked. The intersection of business interests, political contributions, and policy advocacy underscores the complex dynamics at play in the upcoming election and the broader debate around casino expansion in Texas.
