Soros contributions to LaHood DA challenger nears $1 million

District attorney candidate Joe Gonzales participates in a debate with incumbent DA Nico LaHood on Feb. 8, 2018, at the Claude Black Community Center in San Antonio. District attorney candidate Joe Gonzales participates in a debate with incumbent DA Nico LaHood on Feb. 8, 2018, at the Claude Black Community Center in San Antonio. Photo: Darren Abate /Special To The San Antonio Express-News Photo: Darren Abate /Special To The San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 74 Caption Close Soros contributions to LaHood DA challenger nears $1 million 1 / 74 Back to Gallery

Liberal billionaire George Soros earlier this month poured nearly $900,000 into the campaign of Joe Gonzales, a Democrat running to unseat Bexar County District Attorney Nicholas “Nico” LaHood, according to reports filed Monday.

The contributions, coming from the Soros-backed Texas Justice & Safety political action committee, came in the form of in-kind contributions mostly for mailers, media buys and related expenditures.

Soros’ latest effort to swing the race in Gonzales’ favor comes after he kicked in more than $60,000 to the campaign in January, bringing the political financier’s total contributions to $958,000.

In total, Soros’ PAC supplied Gonzales’ campaign with 22 donations, all but two of which came in February. Gonzales received another $15,000 in individual contributions and spent $34,000. He reported about $1,000 in cash on hand.

LaHood, a prolific fundraiser himself, totaled $290,000 in contributions during the reporting period, which covered Jan. 26 to Feb. 24. Early voting for the March 6 primaries ends Friday.

Well before the most recent round of Soros funding, LaHood put out a video accusing Gonzales of trying to “steal the district attorney’s office away from you, the citizens of Bexar County.”

“What do we know about George Soros?” LaHood said in the video. “We know that George Soros is a billionaire that has purchased at least 10 other district attorney’s offices around the country, not to mention other political positions.”

Texas conservatives, alarmed at the prospect of Soros’ influence spreading to other races here, have lashed out. In an email to supporters Wednesday, Gov. Greg Abbott warned of Soros’ donations to Gonzales.

“What’s the secret to a winning campaign?” the email began. “If you’re a liberal running for district attorney, a truckload of cash from far-left billionaire George Soros seems to do the trick.”

It continued: “Soros has been targeting district attorney races across the country and is shelling out MILLIONS to attack and defeat our conservative leaders.” The email went on to mention the Bexar County district attorney race.

In 2014, LaHood ended the 16-year reign of Republican District Attorney Susan Reed with the aid of about $1.2 million from personal injury attorney Thomas J. Henry.

In September, as LaHood announced his re-election bid, Henry flanked the district attorney on the steps of the Bexar County courthouse. But he has yet to contribute to LaHood’s campaign this cycle.

Read more about the contentious Democratic race for Bexar County district attorney on Express-News.com.