Eric Trump To Headline Fundraiser In Temecula For Conservative PAC

TEMECULA, CA — The Inland Empire Family PAC works to "stop the indoctrination of our children by placing candidates on school boards who will fight for Christian and Conservative values," according to the organization's website.

Founded by 412 Church Temecula Valley Pastor Tim Thompson, the PAC successfully placed five candidates in 2022 across the Temecula Valley, Murrieta Valley and Lake Elsinore school districts.

Now, the PAC has recruited former U.S. President Donald Trump's son, Eric, and Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin to help raise money for the mission.

On May 22, the IE Family PAC is fundraising at The Temecula Stampede (28721 Old Town Front Street). Eric Trump is the headliner. He will be joined by Hestrin and Thomspon, as well as Alina Habba, an attorney to Donald Trump, and Kash Patel, a former Trump administration employee.

According to the billing, the five will focus on "taking back school boards" and "restoring parental rights." The three-hour event, which begins at 6 p.m., costs $100-$1,000 for general admission, and sponsor packages run from $2,500 to $10,000, according to the PAC's website.

Thompson's become a player in Southwest Riverside County politics. He networks on the ground and makes vote recommendations up and down the ballot during elections. He's linked to several high-profile conservative figures, including Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, and he supports like-minded politicians.

The IE Family PAC's efforts to flip school boards have resulted in community division, protests and lawsuits in Southwest Riverside County. In the TVUSD, for example, three IE Family PAC-backed candidates were elected to the school board in 2022 and formed a majority. Critics blasted their moves, including a critical race theory ban; a controversial critical race theory "panel" that many TVUSD teachers dubbed "indoctrination camp"; censoring of instruction about California's gay rights movement; attempted defiance of state education code; the firing of the district's superintendent; the hiring of their own team of attorneys at taxpayers' expense to defend against ongoing lawsuits over their actions; a ban on pride and other flags; and a mandate that educators report to parents about transgender students, among other things.

Since the 2022 election, one of the PAC-based TVUSD board members resigned, and another is facing a June 4 recall election (read more: TVUSD's Dr. Joseph Komrosky To Face Recall Election).

The Temecula Stampede is operated by husband-and-wife Ken and Brandie Newman of Newman Hospitality Group.