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Ray Washburne
| Ray Washburne | |||
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| Basic facts | |||
| Organization: | Charter Holdings | ||
| Role: | CEO | ||
| Location: | Highland Park, Texas | ||
| Affiliation: | Republican | ||
| Education: | Southern Methodist University | ||
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Ray Washburne is a Republican political backer and financial operative who was the vice chair for the Trump Victory Committee.[1] Washburne was also a member of Trump's transition team, serving as a commerce advisor.
Career
Business career
Ray Washburne made his fortune as a restaurant owner and real estate developer. He is the CEO of Charter Holdings, a real estate development firm, and a co-founder of MCrowd Restaurant Group, which created the restaurant chains Mi Cocina and Taco Diner. Washburne is also the owner of Highland Park Village, the nation's first shopping complex, which he bought in 2009 for $164 million.[2]
George W. Bush bundler
In 2000 and 2004, Washburne worked with George W. Bush's (R) presidential campaign; he was one of several "bundlers" for the Bush campaign. A bundler seeks out direct funding for the candidate by tapping into personal networks and utilizing connections. As a bundler for Bush, Washburne ranked among the "Pioneers" in 2000 and the "Rangers" in 2004, statuses bestowed on Bush's bundlers who raised over $100k and $200K respectively, making Washburne one of the top bundlers in Texas.[3][4][5][6]
The Legacy Fund
In 2004, Washburne, along with George Seay III, co-founded The Legacy Fund, a politically influential evangelical group of wealthy families. According to D Magazine, the fund was started by a group of 55 wealthy families with the intent of backing Republican candidates around the country. Washburne told D, "Legacy is just a group of people interested in supporting GOP candidates. ... We’re only active around election season, and then we go back to our families and businesses."[7]
Would-be Republican political candidates—including Rep. John Thune (S.D.), former Gov. Mike Huckabee (Ark.), Sen. Tom Coburn (Okla.), former Sen. Kay Bailey (Texas) and Sen. John Cornyn (Texas)—frequently seek the backing of Legacy.[8][9][10]
Presidential election, 2012
Looking ahead to the 2012 presidential campaign, Washburne backed the incipient stages of then-Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty's (R) presidential bid. However, after placing third in the Iowa Straw Polls, Pawlenty withdrew his candidacy.[11][12][13][4] Subsequently, Washburne chose to back Mitt Romney for the 2012 presidential elections, becoming Romney's chief Texas donor and Texas co-chair.[11][10][12][13]
After Romney's loss in the general election, Washburne was appointed national finance chairman for the Republican National Committee (RNC). During his two-year tenure with the RNC, Washburne raised a record $160 million for the GOP.[11][10][13][14]
Presidential election, 2016
Chris Christie
In January 2015, Ray Washburne joined Chris Christie's PAC, Leadership Matters for America, as the finance director.[11][10][13] Washburne's proven ability to procure contributions was seen as a benefit to Christie's fundraising campaign, and the New York Observer noted that Washburne's status in the South was likely to help the Christie with a conservative southern base.[10]
On June 30, 2015, Christie announced his 2016 presidential campaign.[15][16] On July 3, 2015, Washburne was named the campaign's national finance chairman.[17]
Christie suspended his presidential run on February 10, 2016.[18]
Donald Trump
- See also: Donald Trump presidential campaign, 2016
After Donald Trump became the presumptive Republican nominee for president, Washburne began acting as a fundraiser. The Texas Tribune called Washburne "Trump's most visible fundraiser" in the state.[19] In May 2016, when Washburne was announced as the vice chair for the Trump Victory Committee, CNN saw the move as "the latest indication that many of the party's prior standard-bearers are prepared to rally behind Trump -- and pitch in to help the GOP -- in spite of their reservations about the candidate."[20]
In May 2016, Washburne told The Dallas Morning News that his decision to back Trump was out of a desire for party unity. He said, "This is it. If you’re wearing the uniform, there’s only one team to be on at this point." He went on to say that the campaign would raise "$1 billion plus."[1]
Appeal to Koch donor network
Politico reported that, after the Republican National Convention, Washburne appealed to Charles and David Koch to "reconsider their opposition to Trump." The Kochs were in Colorado to hold a summer summit for their donor network, and Trump was attending a fundraiser in the area. According to the article, no meeting between Trump and the Koch donor network was scheduled.[21]
Donald Trump presidential transition team, 2016-2017
Washburne was a member of Donald Trump's presidential transition team in his first presidential term. The transition team was a group of around 100 aides, policy experts, government affairs officials, and former government officials who were tasked with vetting, interviewing, and recommending individuals for top cabinet and staff roles in Trump's administration. According to Politico, he was a commerce advisor for the transition team.[22]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Dallas Morning News, "Dallas financier Ray Washburne helps lead Trump donor effort; 'only one team to be on at this point,'" May 24, 2016
- ↑ Bisnow, "Q&A with Highland Park Village owner Ray Washburne," February 24, 2016
- ↑ NPR, "Explainer: What Is a Bundler?" September 14, 2007
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 The Wall Street Journal, "Pawlenty Attracts Wealthy Donors," May 13, 2011
- ↑ New York Times, "Bush Campaign’s Demand for Fidelity Ruffles Some Republican Rivals," February 26, 2015
- ↑ Texas Tribune, "The Top GOP Donors and Bundlers in Texas," March 1, 2015
- ↑ D Magazine, "The New Emperor of Highland Park Village," November 2010
- ↑ Allen, Mike. (2006). Courting a New Coalition. Time Magazine
- ↑ Mother Jones, "Inside The 1 Percent's Texas Enclave," December, 2011
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 The New York Observer, "Chris Christie Lands a Key Texas Bundler for Prez Run," January 12, 2015
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 The Dallas Morning News, "Chris Christie nabs Ray Washburne as finance chief for 2016: report," January 12. 2015
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 NPR, "Romney Camp Slow To Attract Former Bush Donors," October 13, 2011
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 The Dallas Morning News, "Dallas GOP moneyman Ray Washburne reportedly joining Christie camp," January 12, 2015
- ↑ The Dallas Morning News, "Dallas investor Ray Washburne takes over top GOP fundraising role," February 6, 2013
- ↑ National Journal, "Chris Christie Is Running For President. But Is He Too Late?" June 30, 2015
- ↑ Politico, "Chris Christie kicks off presidential campaign," June 30, 2015
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Exclusive: Chris Christie hires presidential campaign manager and appoints senior staff," July 3, 2015
- ↑ CNN, "Chris Christie suspends campaign, source says," February 10, 2016
- ↑ The Texas Tribune, "With Some Uncertainty, Texas Donors Begin Pitching in for Trump," June 6, 2016
- ↑ CNN, "How Donald Trump won over big donors," May 19, 2016
- ↑ Politico, "Kochs reject push to meet with Trump," July 29, 2016
- ↑ Politico, "Current Agency Action Team structure," accessed November 16, 2016
