![\"Cody](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1227833729-GI.JPG\" "\\"Cody")
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Cody Campbell, the co-founder and co-CEO of Double Eagle Energy Holdings, introduces President Donald Trump to a crowd on the site of an active oil rig on July 29, 2020, in Midland. Campbell says he is a longtime Republican donor.<\/p>\n
Montinique Monroe<\/p>\n
Getty Images<\/p>\n
Texas Tech\u2019s Board of Regents Chairman Cody Campbell says there was nothing nefarious about a June donation to Attorney General Ken Paxton\u2019s Senate campaign.<\/a><\/p>\n The $274,300 donation<\/a> to one of Paxton\u2019s fundraising committees has drawn headlines because of its proximity to a letter Paxton\u2019s office sent to the Big 12 Conference<\/a> amid the debate over former Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby\u2019s eligibility after he was found to be placing sports bets as a college player, including on his own team<\/a>, in violation of NCAA rules.<\/p>\n Campbell, who lives in Fort Worth and is a former Tech offensive lineman, made the contribution on June 10. The next day, Paxton\u2019s office wrote to the conference warning that sanctioning Tech for supporting Sorsby was against the law and would carry consequences.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I wanted to make a nefarious deal, there are plenty of places and ways to do so,\u201d Campbell said in a Friday evening interview with the Star-Telegram. \u201cThat was not at all what happened. I contributed because I wanted to support the race.\u201d<\/p>\n Paxton faces State Rep. James Talarico, a Democrat, in the Nov. 3 general election.<\/p>\n Campbell emphasized that he\u2019s a longtime Republican donor. Federal and state election records show him contributing to statewide candidates Sen. Ted Cruz, Sen. John Cornyn, Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, as well as Tarrant County congressional candidates and state legislative candidates. He has also donated to Paxton in past elections.<\/p>\n Campbell, the co-founder and co-CEO of Fort Worth-based Double Eagle Energy Holdings, has donated at least $25 million toward<\/a> Tech\u2019s athletic program. The university named the Jones AT&T Stadium playing field Cody Campbell Field to recognize what was the largest one-time contribution ever made to the athletics department.<\/p>\n He\u2019s a board member of Tech\u2019s NIL collective, which has paid more $60 million to Tech athletes<\/a> since 2022.<\/p>\n Campbell said he hasn\u2019t spoken to Paxton about the situation involving Sorsby and wasn\u2019t aware of the office\u2019s plan to send the Big 12 letter. Campbell spoke with Paxton and his fundraising team on May 27, the day after he won a runoff election against Cornyn, and hasn\u2019t since, he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Sorsby thing wasn\u2019t even on the radar at that point,\u201d Campbell said. \u201cSo, there\u2019s nothing to be discussed. If I had discussed it with them, it wouldn\u2019t be out of line for me to do so.\u201d<\/p>\n Paxton\u2019s office at the time said the letter was sent on behalf of its client, Texas Tech University, a public institution. It followed a temporary injunction<\/a> that cleared the way for Sorsby to play after he was declared ineligible for betting on college sports.<\/p>\n The NCAA had deemed him ineligible after learning he\u2019d wagered thousands on professional and college sports<\/a>, including on the Indiana Hoosiers when he was a freshman there.<\/p>\n Campbell said the donation falling the day after the letter from Paxton\u2019s office was a coincidence.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t have anything to do with the letter being written,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a \u201ccompletely normal course of business for any state institution to have constant contact with the attorney general\u2019s office,\u201d Campbell said.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s irresponsible to report or imply that this contribution had some conditions tied to it,\u201d Campbell said.<\/p>\n Spokespersons for Paxton\u2019s campaign and office and the Texas Tech system did not immediately return requests for comment.<\/p>\n Eleanor Dearman<\/a><\/p>\n Fort Worth Star-Telegram<\/p>\n Eleanor (Elly) Dearman is a Texas politics and government reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She\u2019s based in Austin, covering the Legislature and its impact on North Texas. She grew up in Denton and has been a reporter for more than six years.
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