East Central Texas News

It’s common knowledge and published on numerous websites that hotel magnate Monty Bennett and U.S. Rep. Lance Gooden (R-Texas) own property together. It’s been reported since at least 2018 and still appears on multiple locations. 

There’s one problem. They don’t.

“No,” Bennett told Dallas City Wire. “We do not own any property together.”

U.S. Rep. Lance Gooden (R-Texas) | File photo

They did once co-own a small piece of land in Henderson County. But that is no longer the case, despite what is widely reported.

“Years ago, Rep. Gooden and I co-owned, along with others, a small piece of property of about an acre or less,” Bennett said.

He met the Republican congressman when Gooden was a state legislator. 

“I know Rep. Gooden well,” Bennett said.

The hotel tycoon owns an exotic game ranch, East Texas Ranch, and was embroiled in a battle over a $2.3 billion water pipeline that was planned to cut through the ranch to bring water to Dallas. Gooden backed a bill in the Texas Legislature to prevent the pipeline from passing through the ranch as Bennett waged a long legal and political battle to keep the pipeline off his land.

The pipeline eventually was rerouted.

Bennett supported Gooden’s campaigns as he rose from the legislature to win a seat in Congress in 2018. Gooden is seeking a second term representing Texas’ Fifth District.

Bennett said it is important to make clear the report they own land together is false.

“Sadly, in an effort to smear myself or Rep. Gooden, some like to imply or just outright make up facts,” he said.

In 2018, Bennett told Texas Tribune that accusations that he bought politicians was “silly.” Instead, he said he backed candidates with whom he agreed.

“I have supported dozens of conservatives across Texas and the U.S.,” Bennett said in a statement. “Lance is right up there among the best of them. My ranch is in his district, and I want someone in Washington D.C., that is from here that fights for us.”

Bennett has contributed to multiple GOP candidates as well as local and state Republican groups and the national Republican Party.

Bennett has been in the hotel industry most of his life. He was the CEO of Ashford Hospitality Trust from its founding until 2017, and remains the firm’s chairman.

Ashford provides services to real estate and hospitality firms. Bennett is the adviser to two real estate investment trusts (REITs), Ashford Hospitality Trust and Braemar Hotels & Resorts, which combined own 120 hotels. Bennett was CEO of Braemar Hotels & Resorts until 2016 and has been its chairman since 2013.

Democrat Carolyn Salter and Libertarian Kevin Hale are challenging Gooden in the Nov. 3 election. In 2018, Gooden defeated Democrat Dan Wood 62.3% to 37.5%.

Political analysts deem the district safely Republican this year.

The Ashford Hospitality Trust has donated $11,200 to Gooden.