Texas Democrats have reportedly discovered a “roundabout” method for compensating individuals in the key Senate and gubernatorial elections, as revealed in an undercover video made public on Wednesday.
A Democratic operative affiliated with Texas Majority PAC acknowledged in the newly released footage that the organization is offering $25 to people participating in Zoom classes aimed at discussing the “bad things” done by Republicans.
“We are paying people $25 to attend a one-hour Zoom class to learn why voting is important and why the Republicans are causing all of these bad things,” said Sky MacAdams, an organizing manager with Texas Majority PAC.
He described the practice as, essentially, a “roundabout way of paying people for their votes,” recognizing it as somewhat of a “gray” area.
Federal law strictly forbids any payments made in exchange for voting—or not voting—for specific candidates, with potential violators facing penalties of up to two years in prison.
The initiative, described as a paid relational program, compensates those who don’t usually engage in voting “for their time as they reach, persuade, and mobilize their friends and family to vote,” according to information from a political consulting firm.
MacAdams clarified: “You can’t pay someone to vote for someone. You can’t be like, ‘Here’s $25, go vote for me.’ You can say, ‘Attend a one-hour class and you can receive $25.’”
He even expressed, “If I was a Republican, I would be pissed. I would be like, that’s shady as f–k.”
Representatives for Texas Majority PAC did not immediately respond to inquiries for comment.
Further, the group reportedly allocated $500,000 to Relentless for its Relational Organizing Program this past May, as indicated by a state campaign finance report.
Thus far in 2026, it has invested over $2.4 million in efforts to mobilize voters for various statewide, US House, and Senate elections.
Additionally, former President Trump faced allegations of attempting to buy votes during the midterm elections by offering $5,000 checks if Republicans retained control of both congressional chambers.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized Trump for “trying to bribe the American people for their votes” after the announcement made at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas last week.
Texas Senate Democratic candidate James Talarico referred to Trump’s checks as an “election year stunt.” On the flip side, Talarico’s opponent, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, has accused him of engaging in similar practices following the emergence of the Texas Majority PAC plan.
