A Comparison of Voter Guide Philosophies in Montgomery County Republican Primaries
Understanding who produces a voter guide, how endorsements are decided, and whether the organization has earned long-term trust can make all the difference at the ballot box.
February 18, 2026 | Montgomery, TX
As Republican primary voters head to the polls, they are often confronted with multiple voter guides, each claiming to represent conservative values. Understanding who is behind these guides, how endorsements are decided, and what their track records are is essential for making an informed choice.
Texas Patriots PAC: Conservatism With a Path to Victory
Texas Patriots PAC has built its reputation on a straightforward but pragmatic principle: supporting the most conservative candidate who also has a viable path to victory. The organization emphasizes that principles alone are not enough if a candidate cannot realistically win and govern.
For more than 15 years, Texas Patriots PAC has been active year-round, engaging in grassroots activism, policy discussions, and local governance issues. This long-term involvement has helped it earn trust among conservative voters who want both ideological clarity and electoral success.
Montgomery County Tea Party PAC: Proven Conservatives Only
Montgomery County Tea Party PAC uses a different but equally strict standard. Their criterion focuses on endorsing only the most conservative candidates who have been battle tested in the political arena. Experience under pressure matters to this group, which argues that campaigns and governing both expose a candidate’s true convictions.
Like Texas Patriots PAC, the Montgomery County Tea Party PAC has been active for over 15 years. Its credibility is largely tied to consistent, year-round activism rather than election-season appearances, reinforcing its image as a reliable conservative guide.
Republican Voters of Texas PAC: A Different Model and Growing Controversy
Republican Voters of Texas PAC represents a markedly different approach. According to critics, moderate-aligned activists tend to form new PACs every few years, and their most recent iteration is Republican Voters of Texas PAC.
The group was created by the Precinct 2 Commissioner’s campaign team with the stated goal of helping him and his allies get elected. Critics argue that their endorsement criterion is informal and transactional: candidates must either be personal allies or donate to the PAC in order to receive support.
Allegations of Deceptive Practices
The Republican Voters of Texas PAC has been publicly condemned by the Montgomery County Republican Party for what party officials describe as dirty electioneering. The criticism centers on how the PAC presents its voter guide to unsuspecting voters in a way that implies it is an official Republican Party guide, even though the official party does not endorse candidates in primaries.
Critics argue this is not accidental. Because the Republican Party abstains from primary endorsements, detractors say the Republican Voters of Texas PAC exploits a knowledge gap among voters, stepping in to “fill the void” and creating the false impression that it represents the party itself.
This perception is reinforced by branding choices. Republican Voters of Texas PAC prominently features the word “Republican” at the top, a design decision critics say is intended to confuse voters into believing the guide is official party material.
Questions of Longevity and Transparency
In contrast to the long-standing PACs, Republican Voters of Texas PAC has only existed since 2018. Observers also note that the vast majority of its fundraising occurs during the primary season, suggesting the group’s primary purpose is to raise money specifically to publish and distribute its voter guide rather than to engage in sustained civic involvement.
Additionally, the PAC was formed in Magnolia, and critics argue its name is misleading, as it implies a statewide organization when it is, in reality, a local group.
Montgomery County First PAC: First Appeared in This Election Cycle
A brand new PAC that just turned up for this Primary Election is the “Montgomery County First PAC.” This PAC reports $9,450 in total contributions with $5,000 of that donated by Leo T. Metcalf (primary candidate Will Metcalf's father).
All contributions to this PAC were made in January of 2026, implying a primary objective of fundraising for the publication and distribution of its voter guide. No criteria or vetting philosophy is included on the voter guide and no contact information is listed for regular meetings or ongoing civic efforts.
A Clear Contrast for Voters
The contrast between these organizations is stark:
Texas Patriots PAC and Montgomery County Tea Party PAC emphasize ideology, experience, and electability, backed by more than a decade and a half of consistent local involvement.
Republican Voters of Texas PAC, according to its critics, operates episodically, focuses on insider relationships and donations, and employs deceptive branding strategies that have drawn formal condemnation.
Montgomery County First PAC is brand new for this Primary Election, more than half of its total contributions were made by Leo T. Metcalf, and it provides no criteria or vetting philosophy on the voter guide.
For voters, the takeaway is simple: not all voter guides are created equal. Understanding who produces them, how endorsements are decided, and whether the organization has earned long-term trust can make all the difference at the ballot box.