Dallas News Publishes Paid Op-Ed Praise for Hinojosa
Dallas Morning News published a paid op-ed praising Texas Democrat Gina Hinojosa, sparking calls for removal.
2 min read
The Dallas Morning News recently published a glowing opinion piece praising Texas Democrat Gina Hinojosa, but the article’s author had a hidden connection to the campaign. Suzanne Bellsnyder, billed as a longtime Republican and former staffer for Republican lawmakers, wrote the piece as a paid consultant for Hinojosa’s campaign. However, she failed to disclose her employment to the paper when submitting the column.
Op-Ed Published Without Disclosure
The column, which appeared just before Texas voters head to the polls, reads like a campaign ad. Bellsnyder described how Hinojosa reached out to her on a tractor ride in the Panhandle, asking for help with a bill to boost oversight of the Texas Education Agency. She portrayed Hinojosa as a bridge-builder, emphasizing shared values in public education and criticizing Governor Greg Abbott for turning his school voucher agenda into a political loyalty test.
After the column was published, Bellsnyder informed the paper that she was a paid consultant to the Hinojosa campaign, a fact she had not disclosed earlier. The paper responded with an editor’s note acknowledging that it would have declined to publish the piece had it known about her affiliation. Despite this, the column remains on the Dallas Morning News website.
Financial Disclosure and Calls for Removal
Heritage Foundation researcher Corey A. DeAngelis found that Hinojosa’s campaign paid Bellsnyder’s group $57,000. Critics have demanded the Morning News remove the piece entirely, citing the lack of transparency and potential bias in the publication.
Bellsnyder, who describes herself as a rural newspaper publisher and former GOP legislative staffer, concluded the piece by emphasizing the shared passion for public education between her and Hinojosa. She wrote, “That is the kind of leadership Texas needs.”
Gina Hinojosa, a state representative from Austin, won the Democratic primary in March and is now running to unseat Governor Greg Abbott, who is seeking a record-setting fourth term in the upcoming election.
Source: Daily Wire
