Texas PAC texts voters about furry turnout

Texas voters received a text message this weekend warning that furries are turning out in large numbers to influence the state's midterm election. The message, which four recipients independently reported to the San Antonio Current, circulated on Saturday alongside a photograph.

The image shows a man walking away from a polling place in Collin County. He appears to be wearing a fox tail accessory. The text describes furries, defined as people who adopt anthropomorphized animal personas, along with "other weirdos." It asserts these groups are voting early in "record numbers." The message cites this turnout as a "big reason why Democrats hold an 86,000 vote lead on Republicans statewide."

The text urges recipients to vote for every Republican on the ballot. It states, "Don't let weirdo furry Socialists pick our leaders!" The goal is to keep "common sense conservatives in control of Texas." The message identifies the sender as Texans for Common Sense, a political action committee.

According to the text, the PAC is fully funded by Texans United for a Conservative Majority PAC. That group is backed by Tim Dunn, a West Texas oil billionaire. Dunn co-founded CrownQuest Operating in Midland. He is a major financial supporter of the Texas Republican Party. James Talarico, the Texas Democratic U.S. Senate candidate, frequently references Dunn's influence on the campaign trail.

There is no proof that the man in the photo was leaving a polling place during early voting. There is also no confirmation that he is a member of the furry community. Fox tails are worn for various reasons, including fashion, cosplay, anime fandom, and Renaissance faire attendance.

Even if the man is a furry, there is no indication that the subculture shares a specific political ideology. No estimate exists for how many Texans identify as furries. The state's largest annual convention, Texas Furry Fiesta, draws 8,000 attendees. That number represents a small fraction of the state's 31.7 million residents.