GOP primary voters press MAGA candidate on purchase of Epstein property

One Republican candidate running for statewide office in Texas is quickly drawing the ire of the MAGA wing of the GOP after he was found to have bought a sprawling multimillion-dollar ranch previously owned by convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

The Daily Beast reported Monday that Donald Huffines — who is running in the Republican primary for Texas comptroller — has not yet acknowledged previous reporting that he used a limited liability company to buy Epstein's notorious Zorro Ranch in 2023. While Huffines has posted multiple times to his official social media accounts since reports emerged that he was the mystery buyer, multiple self-described conservatives and Republicans have repeatedly commented on his posts demanding he explain the purchase of the property where it is alleged several bodies may be buried.

"Was gonna vote for you, but after the Zorro ranch revelation I will absolutely not vote for you," wrote conservative Texas-based X user Russ Scown. "At this point it’s probably too late for you to do the right thing and let investigators in. You tanked your reputation."

"How can you put Texans first when you won’t even answer our question about Zorror’s[sic] Ranch? That only makes seem untrustworthy and unworthy of our vote," wrote another X user whose bio includes the phrase "America first."

"Your actions have consequences and you lost my vote," one Houston-based X user wrote in response to one of Huffines' posts. "Do the right thing and open your Epstein ranch up to cadaver dogs and radar!"

"You are knee-deep in Epstein's cover-up! You have lost TEXANS VOTE," read another response from a self-described MAGA activist in Texas.

According to the Guardian, the ranch was valued at more than $21.1 million in tax year 2023. However, Huffines disputed that assessment due to the property's "notoriety." The value of the ranch was later reduced to $13.4 million.

Huffines is currently the front-runner in the GOP primary for Texas comptroller, and has been endorsed by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas). Huffines is running as a hardline MAGA conservative who wants to "DOGE Texas," in reference to Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk's drastic cuts to federal agencies in early 2025.