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Welcome to the San Marcos Peoples PAC

We’re a group of San Marcos residents who care about our city.

The San Marcos Peoples PAC is:

  • Pro-environment
  • Pro-community
  • and Pro-Small business

Our mission is to promote and support progressive local candidates who share our goals and our vision.

We want to level the playing field so that good candidates aren’t priced out of effective and successful campaigns.

What We Stand For

  • Protecting our river, our water and our environment
  • Guiding sustainable growth and ensuring government transparency and accountability
  • Preserving the character of our neighborhoods
  • Encouraging and supporting local businesses, music, and the arts
  • Prioritizing health, safety, and affordability for everyone
  • Pursuing downtown development that attracts both families and students
  • Bringing a better balance to the relationship between the city and Texas State University
  • Forging closer cooperation with the Union Pacific Railroad on traffic and safety issues
  • Initiating forums between residents and the police department to discuss and resolve concerns 

What We Oppose

  • We oppose the use of Flock cameras or other similar surveillance devices
  • We oppose the construction of Data Centers anywhere in our city
  • We oppose any action to construct a new City Hall without robust input from city residents in all neighborhoods
  • Encouraging and supporting local businesses, music, and the arts
  • We oppose the displacement of residents and the destruction of neighborhoods and historic structures through development
  • We oppose any city cooperation with ICE

WHY A PAC?

The Problem

$100,000 for 2 candidates.  Just $20,000 combined for the other five.

In the past, City Council candidates raised and spent campaign funds within the strict limits of the San Marcos city code; the same limits for every donor, every candidate, every campaign.

That changed last year. A new PAC raised over $100,000 to support just two candidates. Five times more than the other five candidates raised combined. It was sitting on almost $35,000 even after the runoff, before this year’s campaign season had even started.

Was It Legal? Was It Fair?

Yes, it was legal. Whether it was fair is up to you. One thing is certain: that much money put good candidates at a real disadvantage.

Our Response

We don’t want to see that happen again. So we formed the San Marcos Peoples PAC. A PAC for the people to help level the playing field. This year we’re electing a mayor and three council members, and we want to make sure good candidates aren’t priced out of running an effective campaign.

Want to know exactly what a PAC can and can’t legally do? See “What Is a PAC?” below.

How to Help

In November 2026, we’ll be voting to elect a mayor and three city council members.

We want to make sure the voices of progressive candidates aren’t drowned out by the spending of the big money PAC.

We need your help as we set our agenda and work for change, amplifying the voices of progressive candidates.

Securely Donate Here

Please contribute now by scanning this QR Code, Following the “Donate Button”, or by mail (Address Below)


Mailing Address:
San Marcos Peoples PAC
P.O. Box 28
San Marcos, TX  78667

Who Are We Supporting?

We haven’t made any decisions yet.

We’re looking at candidate histories, plans, campaign promises, and performance in public and civic roles.


We’ll be weighing their values against the values we stand for.

When we have questions, we’ll go directly to the candidates.

Our decisions about who we support will be made independently of the candidates.

We would like the community’s input.

If you have concerns that aren’t being addressed by the candidates, let us know so we can get answers.

We will not – and cannot – coordinate with the candidates when it comes to providing support.

Providing our support will be an independent decision made by the San Marcos Peoples PAC – not by any candidate and not by any campaign.

We will not – and cannot – coordinate with the candidates when it comes to providing support.

FAQ: Understanding PACs, Super PACs & Campaign Finance

What is a PAC?

A plain-language guide for San Marcos voters. Written to explain. not to spin.

We have compiled some answers to frequently asked questions. We have a more detailed explanation guide HERE.

What is a PAC?

A Political Action Committee is a pooled fund. A group of people combine their individual donations into one account, and the committee uses that money to support or oppose candidates and ballot measures.

What Does A PAC do?

A PAC may collect contributions from individuals, then contribute directly to a candidate’s campaign (up to legal limits) and/or spend on their own communications.

What rules govern a PAC? (Federal Level)

An individual can give a federal PAC up to $5,000 per calendar year. A federal PAC can then give up to $5,000 per candidate, per election and a primary and a general election each count separately. Federal PACs cannot accept money directly from corporate or union treasuries.

– PACs must publicly disclose who gave them money and what they spent it on.

Is a PAC a nonprofit?

Yes, but a specific, different kind than most people picture when they hear “nonprofit.”

PACs are organized and tax-exempt under Section 527 of the IRS tax code, which is why they’re sometimes called “527 organizations.” Like other nonprofits, a PAC doesn’t pay federal income tax on the contributions it raises. But that’s about where the similarity to a charity ends:

– Contributions to a PAC are not tax-deductible. Donating to a PAC is nothing like donating to a church, a food bank, or the Red Cross, you can’t write it off on your taxes.

– A PAC’s entire purpose is political. Unlike a charity, which is legally barred from campaign activity, a PAC exists specifically to influence the election of candidates to office. That’s not a side activity for a PAC it’s the whole point, and the IRS requires it.

– PACs must publicly disclose their donors and spending, filing regular reports (with the FEC for federal PACs, or the Texas Ethics Commission for a Texas PAC like ours) this is on top of, not instead of, their IRS filings.

What is a Super PAC?

A Super PAC – officially an “independent expenditure–only committee.” Is a different kind of group that emerged after the 2010 Supreme Court decision Citizens United v. FEC.

– What they do: They cannot give money directly to a candidate or party. Instead, they spend money independently on things like TV ads, mailers, and billboards to support or oppose a candidate

– The rules: Because that money never touches a candidate’s campaign account, Super PACs can raise and spend unlimited amounts, including unlimited contributions from individuals, corporations, and labor unions.


– They still must publicly disclose their donors.

Have More Questions?

In an effort to educate, we have put together a detailed breakdown of: Specifics about PACS, The rules (federal, state, and local), and the differences between a PAC/Super PAC and a non-profit.

You can find more info HERE