Texas Kratom Couple Gives Republicans Over $3 Million as 30 States Tighten Scrutiny
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Oct 9
Texas Kratom Couple Gives Republicans Over $3 Million as 30 States Tighten Scrutiny
1 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Oct 9
Summary
David and Maya Gabbay, a Texas couple tied to kratom wholesaler JOpen, donated more than $3 million to Republicans this cycle after first emerging as GOP donors last year.
Campaign records show $885,000 went to the RNC, $764,000 to an NRSC-linked joint committee, nearly $300,000 to the NRCC, plus $150,000 to Gov. Greg Abbott, $255,000 to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and over $135,000 to Ken Paxton's Senate bid.
JOpen has faced about a dozen lawsuits alleging harm from its products, including a case tied to the 2021 death of 29-year-old Dustin Hernandez; Gabbay and the company have denied the allegations.
The donations land as at least 30 states move to curb kratom products over health risks, especially elevated 7-OH levels, and as Paxton sues retailers under Texas' 2023 law restricting high-potency products.
That pressure has coincided with a broader industry influence push: the American Kratom Association has spent at least $485,000 on federal lobbying this year, and Gabbay testified in 2025 that JOpen donated to the trade group.
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