As the U.S. Senate primaries heats up in Texas, donors are throwing major cash behind their favorite candidates. And the top donor in the Republican race owns a key San Antonio beer distributorship, the Houston Chronicle reports.
John Nau III is a major Republican donor, not just in Texas — but nationally. He also owns Silver Eagle Beverages, an Anheuser-Busch distributor near Lackland Airforce Base.
Nau, who lives in Houston, has given a total of $4 million over the past year to Texans for a Conservative Majority, Super PAC backing incumbent U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, according to the Chronicle’s data dives. He’s also donated to Alamo PAC, also associated with Cornyn.
Since last January, Nau has dropped a total of $5 million on Republican candidates and causes, the Chronicle reports.
Over the past year, Nau has donated more than $380,000 to the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee, along with other GOP campaign committees.
Nau has also given repeatedly to San Antonio Republican and U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, as well as Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, according to nonpartisan campaign transparency group Open Secrets,
Between 2023 and 2024, Nau gave even more to Republican PACs and candidates as the presidential election approached. That cycle, his total federal contributions exceeded $7 million, placing him as the nation’s 76th-biggest individual contributor, according to OpenSecrets.
Silver Eagle Beverages, one of the largest alcohol distributors in the nation, primarily carries Budweiser and Bud Light products but also distributes craft beers including Freetail Brewing Co. and Saint Arnold along with imports such as Corona and Modelo.
Nau also dedicates his time to preserving historical sites around the country, the Chronicle reports. He serves as chair of the Texas Historical Commission and on the National Park Foundation Board of Directors.
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