The Texas Office of the Attorney General has sued the Harris County Clerk's Office. The state accuses the office of using Meta's ad tools to target its "Get Out the Vote" style ads to certain racial and ethnic groups while avoiding other demographics.
The ads in question were early voting reminders. On Monday, the Harris County Elections Department was accused of using Meta's "detailed targeting" feature to reach a nonwhite, Spanish-speaking audience. Parker Thayer, an investigative researcher, wrote on X that race should not be a factor in such ads. Advancing Integrity President Christine Welborn said the use of taxpayer money for the ads was "the biggest issue."
Attorney General Ken Paxton recused himself from the case because he is the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate. The office said the lawsuit is an "ultra vires" suit against an official in her official capacity, meant to ensure all Texans have an equal opportunity to be informed of and take part in elections regardless of race. The Harris County Clerk's Office has not responded to a request for comment.