Cruz PAC: Jones family donates $250,000

Campaign finance filings show that Jerry Jones and three family members gave a total of $250,000 to a political action committee supporting U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz. The donations were made on Aug. 26, 2026. This date was less than three weeks before the Senate began procedural votes on the Protect College Sports Act.

The recipients of the money are the Truth and Courage PAC. This entity lists its primary goal as ensuring Cruz’s reelection. The donors include Jones, the owner of the Dallas Cowboys, and his children: Charlotte Jones, Stephen Jones, and Jerry Jones Jr. Each family member contributed $62,500. All four have ownership stakes in the Cowboys franchise. Charlotte serves as the team’s chief brand officer. Stephen is the chief operating officer. Jerry Jr. is the chief sales and marketing officer.

This is not the first time the Jones family has funded Cruz’s political efforts. In April of this year, the four family members donated a combined $500,000 to the same PAC. The new late-August gift brings their total contributions to Cruz’s fundraising entity to $750,000 in 2026.

The timing of the donation aligns with Cruz’s role as chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee. This position gives him oversight of sports policy. He co-authored the Protect College Sports Act with Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington. The Senate passed the bill last month. The legislation would grant the NCAA a limited antitrust exemption. This exemption would allow the organization to set new rules for athlete eligibility, transfers, and compensation. It would also shield the NCAA from lawsuits related to these rules.

The bill aims to restrict conference realignment in college athletics. It would limit the size of the wealthiest athletic conferences. The NFL has officially endorsed the measure. The league argues that the bill stabilizes the college system, which serves as the main pipeline for professional players. The legislation would also allow colleges to negotiate television rights collectively. This could generate more revenue for sports programs.

Supporters of the bill say it provides necessary regulatory clarity. Critics, including labor groups, athlete associations, and the NAACP, argue it gives too much power to the NCAA. They contend the bill restricts the more than half a million athletes who compete in college sports without giving those athletes bargaining rights. Sam Ehrlich, an associate professor at Boise State University, described the legislation as a way to protect the institution. He told NPR that the bill gives the NCAA institutional power to control sports at the expense of athletes.

The House of Representatives is not expected to consider the legislation until after the November midterm elections. Its chances of passing the lower chamber remain uncertain. President Donald Trump has voiced support for the measure. The bill represents a victory for the NCAA and its member schools, which have spent tens of millions of dollars lobbying for federal protection from antitrust challenges.

Jon Taylor, a political scientist at the University of Texas at San Antonio, noted that the size of the contribution invites scrutiny. He said the Jones family has a history of backing Republican candidates and influencing public policy affecting the Cowboys. Taylor stated that the money raises questions about access. He asked if contributions at that level get donors a foot in the door to talk to the committee chair. He added that while a direct trade is hard to prove, the donations suggest wealthy individuals have better access to lawmakers crafting consequential legislation.

Neither Cruz’s office nor the Dallas Cowboys media office responded to inquiries about the donations. Jones has not issued a public statement on the legislation. He does have longstanding connections to college football, including a seat on the board of directors for the National Football Foundation.

The Senate’s action on the bill marks a shift in how intercollegiate athletics may be regulated. The law would establish a new federal framework for these rules. The Jones family’s financial support for Cruz coincides with this legislative push. The money went to the PAC that Cruz uses for his reelection campaign. The bill now waits for a vote in the House.