In the wake of disasters in Texas, including responses after the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, H-E-B mobilized its Mobile Kitchen and Disaster Relief Units to distribute thousands of hot meals and donated $10 million toward building a new school. These actions underline the company’s commitment to supporting vulnerable communities and countering authoritarian neglect.

Texas GOP officials condemned H-E-B Chairman Charles Butt for actions including a $1.3 million Public Education PAC donation to oppose school vouchers, sponsoring LGBTQ+ Pride events, and lobbying against anti-sanctuary city legislation, highlighting his progressive political engagement in contrast to the conservative party platform.

H-E-B CEO Charles Butt is under fire from Texas Republican conventions for channeling millions through his PAC to support candidates opposing school choice. The move, alongside his company’s support of LGBTQ initiatives such as drag queen storytime for children, is interpreted as a politically progressive stance that challenges conservative educational policies.

Texas Republican delegates in several counties passed a resolution condemning H-E-B chairman and former CEO Charles Butt for his political actions, including his PAC’s $1.3 million donation to candidates whose platforms opposed certain conservative policies, and for his support of measures such as universal mail‐in ballots and drag queen story hours. The resolution criticizes Butt for allegedly lobbying on issues like amnesty for illegal immigrants and opposing strict election integrity laws.

H-E-B chairman Charles Butt, through his Public Education PAC, funneled over $1 million (totaling $1.3 million between Jan 26 and Feb 24, 2024) into the campaigns of anti-school voucher Republican candidates who are being targeted by Gov. Greg Abbott. The move represents a politically charged intervention, positioning the corporate leader against an establishment figure, and reflects the use of corporate political contributions in contentious electoral battles.

In 2024, H-E-B recalled its Hill Country Fare potato salad from Texas locations after detecting hard plastic fragments in the product. No injuries were reported, and the recall was initiated as a precautionary measure to protect consumers.

A viral TikTok by Nick Powers criticizes H-E-B for altering its historical political funding. Traditionally favoring Democratic candidates, the Texas grocery giant is now splitting its donations evenly between Democrats and Republicans amid backlash connected to the Build Back Better Act.

H-E-B CEO Charles Butt sponsored the Rainbow on the Creek pride event in downtown Austin, which featured a family‐friendly drag show, and his associated PACs contributed a combined $750,000 to campaigns opposing school choice, including donations to multiple Republican candidates. This move emphasizes the company’s progressive stance on LGBTQ+ inclusivity and public education.

Charles Butt, the heir to H-E-B, launched a political action committee by seeding it with $10 million to support Democrats and establishment Republicans in Texas. The PAC notably used official H-E-B letterhead to endorse initiatives such as sending unsolicited mail-ballot applications to voters, highlighting active intervention in local electoral processes.