Texas Congressional Candidate Jace Yarbrough Receives Backing from Hard-Right Donors and Trump Endorsement
A rookie congressional candidate in Texas, Jace Yarbrough, has garnered significant support from wealthy hard-right donors, including tech billionaire Peter Thiel and Claremont Institute board chair Thomas Klingenstein, according to recent Federal Election Commission filings. This financial backing has been followed by an endorsement from former President Donald Trump on Truth Social, amplifying Yarbrough's profile in a crowded nine-way primary for Texas's 32nd district.
Extremist Positions and Political Stances
At a candidate forum hosted by the Dallas Express, Yarbrough articulated a series of controversial views. He stated that critics might label his approach as "bigoted and backward and oppressive and Nazi-ish," but he is "past trying to placate that in any way, shape or form." On immigration, Yarbrough called for repealing the Hart-Celler Act, a 1965 law that ended race-based quotas, aligning with white nationalist policy demands. He also expressed concerns about Islamic immigrants, claiming they aim to establish Sharia law in the U.S., which he deems incompatible with American citizenship.
High-Profile Donors and Their Connections
Donations to Yarbrough's campaign in December include $7,000 from Peter Thiel, split between primary and general elections, and $7,000 from Thomas Klingenstein. Charles Haywood, a former soap magnate linked to the secretive far-right Society for American Civic Renewal (SACR), contributed $1,000. Haywood has previously expressed desires to be a "warlord" and called for an authoritarian overthrow of U.S. democracy. Klingenstein, who funds Claremont Institute and other rightwing causes, has promoted a "cold civil war" against "woke communists."
Links to SACR and Claremont Institute
Other donors with ties to SACR and Claremont include Nate Fischer, a venture capitalist with connections to Vice President JD Vance, and Andrew Beck, Claremont's vice-president for communications. Beck designed SACR's logo and website, and his agency, Beck & Stone, has worked for Yarbrough's campaign. SACR, a men-only fraternal network, aims to recruit individuals who understand "the nature of authority" and form a "renewed American regime," with reports noting "neo-fascist accelerationism" in its philosophy.
Yarbrough's Background and Legal Battles
Jace Yarbrough is a lawyer, former U.S. Air Force service member, and current reservist. He gained prominence through legal battles, including a lawsuit against the U.S. Air Force over a letter of admonishment for a speech criticizing extremism trainings. His firm has represented Elon Musk's X against Media Matters and other clients. In 2024, he failed in a bid for a Texas state senate seat before filing for the congressional race in December 2025.
Academic and Public Reactions
John Bellamy Foster, a sociology professor at the University of Oregon, described Yarbrough as "among the most militant figures in the Maga political movement" and a potential "lawgiver" for a neofascist movement in the U.S. When contacted for comment, only Klingenstein responded, stating he had "no particular objections" to the coverage. Yarbrough's campaign continues to attract attention as the primary approaches, with his positions and donor base sparking debate.
