Texas politics has long been a battleground for competing interests, but a new fault line is emerging: the growing unease with the Adelson family’s financial influence and the rising popularity of State Rep. Matt Shaheen among conservative voters.
Miriam Adelson, the billionaire widow of casino magnate Sheldon Adelson,has faced mounting scrutiny for her role as majority owner of the Dallas Mavericks and her broader ambitions in the state and Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.
The discontent with Adelson hit a fever pitch in February 2025, when the Mavericks, under her 69% ownership acquired in 2023, traded franchise superstar Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick.
The move stunned fans, who revered Dončić—a 25-year-old perennial MVP candidate who led the team to the 2024 NBA Finals—as the franchise’s cornerstone. Protests erupted outside the American Airlines Center, with many pointing fingers at Adelson and accusing her of undermining the team’s future, possibly to pressure Texas lawmakers into legalizing gambling or to pave the way for relocating the Mavericks to Las Vegas.
Though the team has dismissed relocation rumors, the trade has fueled fan outrage, amplifying the narrative that Adelson’s priorities lie far from Dallas’ heart.
Yet many Texans view her as an outsider with an agenda that doesn’t align with the state’s values, as recently reported by DX on the casino debate in Irving.
Meanwhile, Shaheen, a Plano Republican, has earned admiration for his steadfast representation of local priorities, cementing his status as a trusted figure in the Lone Star State.
Miriam Adelson’s political footprint in Texas is hard to miss. Since inheriting the Las Vegas Sands empire after her husband’s death in 2021, she has leveraged her estimated $30 billion fortune to advance her interests.
The Adelson/Dumont family’s ownership of the Dallas Mavericks gave her a foothold in the state, but it’s her campaign contributions that have raised eyebrows.
In the 2024 election cycle, Adelson donated $9 million to the Texas Defense PAC to bolster GOP incumbents and over $4 million to the Texas Sands PAC to promote casino legalization.
Nationally, she contributed more than $100 million to Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign, making her one of the Republican Party’s top donors—a pattern consistent with the $218 million she and Sheldon gave in 2020.
Her primary goal in Texas is clear: transform the state into a gambling hub. Yet this ambition has met stiff resistance.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who presides over the Texas Senate, has repeatedly signaled skepticism toward casino proposals, effectively stalling Adelson’s plans.
Gov. Greg Abbott, despite receiving $1,000,000 from Adelson in 2022, has historically supported the state’s constitutional ban on gambling expansion but, in recent months, voiced tentative support for sports betting legalization.
While some in the Texas House, including former Speaker Dade Phelan, have entertained the idea of “destination-style casinos,” the broader legislative and public mood remains wary.
Critics argue that Texas, with its robust economy driven by energy and technology, doesn’t need to lean on gambling revenue—a sentiment that casts Adelson as an outsider trying to impose an unwanted vision.
Adelson’s broader political profile only deepens this perception. Her substantial donations to Trump have been linked to her advocacy for Israeli interests, notably her push for U.S. recognition of West Bank annexation.
For some Texans, this raises questions about whether her priorities reflect local concerns or a more global agenda.
Her Nevada roots and Las Vegas-centric worldview further fuel the narrative that she’s less invested in Texas’ future than in her own bottom line.
In contrast, Matt Shaheen represents a homegrown alternative. Elected to represent House District 66 in 2015, the Plano lawmaker has built a reputation as a reliable advocate for conservative principles, including low taxes, border security, and religious liberty.
His legislative record includes efforts to reduce property tax burdens and protect faith-based organizations—issues that resonate deeply in his Collin County base.
Shaheen’s tenure hasn’t been without controversy; in 2023, he drew attention for criticizing a Dallas Latino Pride event over what he called inappropriate merchandise, a move that sparked debate but underscored his willingness to take a stand.
That tenacity has endeared him to constituents. A Virginia native who settled in Texas after attending Southern Methodist University, Shaheen has fully embraced his adopted state. Supporters praise his accessibility and commitment, often describing him as a tireless defender of their values.
Unlike Adelson, whose influence stems from wealth and distance, Shaheen’s appeal is rooted in his presence on the ground—whether at community events or in the Capitol.
The juxtaposition is striking. Adelson’s millions may sway some political outcomes, but they’ve also ignited a backlash among Texans who bristle at external interference.
Shaheen, by contrast, embodies the kind of leadership many here prefer: local, accountable, and aligned with the state’s independent streak.
As the Adelson’s press their case, they’re finding Texas a tougher sell than anticipated. Meanwhile, Shaheen’s steady rise suggests that, for many voters, the future of Texas politics lies not in big money from afar, but in representatives who know and live the state’s heartbeat.