‘McLib’? Did this Republican candidate for a Fort Worth House seat vote Democrat?

In Reality Check stories, Star-Telegram journalists dig deeper into questions over facts, consequences and accountability. Read more. Story idea? RealityCheck@star-telegram.com.

Flyers are filling the mailboxes of residents across Texas House District 97 in southwest Tarrant County, where there’s a heated runoff in the Republican primary.

John McQueeney, the subject of a good portion of them, said he didn’t spend a single dollar saying anything negative about his opponent Cheryl Bean until now. The winner of the the primary will face the winner of the Democratic runoff between Diane Symons and Carlos Walker.

The state House seat is held by Republican Craig Goldman, who is seeking the congressional seat held by outgoing Rep. Kay Granger of Fort Worth.

“I never wanted to go this way but she and her supporters have created the rules of engagement,” McQueeney said.

A few flyers called McQueeney a “McLib,” a reference to his time as a McDonald’s franchisee.

“The McLib is back,” the flyers read, using the iconic McDonald’s logo and mimicking the catchy phrase McDonald’s often uses to market its limited releases of the McRib, a menu item with a cult following.

McQueeney said he couldn’t knock the creativity of the political attack ad, but he was ready to address the claims, the key one being that he voted Democrat.

He said he voted in Democratic primaries while living in traditionally blue Hidalgo County.

He said he did so to fulfill his civic duty.

McQueeney also denied voting for Democrat Wendy Davis for governor in 2014, a claim Bean has repeatedly made.

“It’s expensive to defend yourself when people are calling me a liberal. That’s an absolute lie. I’ve been conservative my whole life,” McQueeny said.

But the explanation of McQueeny’s voting registration doesn’t satisfy Bean.

“This race is about one thing and one thing only: who will stand up for conservative values and represent the people of this district? Those who claim to be conservative should have a conservative record. McQueeney falls short,” Bean said.

Another claim made on the “McLib” flyers is that McQueeny supported the national McDonald’s PAC.

“When I was a McDonald’s owner operator, I donated to the federal PAC,” McQueeny said. “There is a group in DC that directs those funds. It is not directed by owners. It is a national deal that is directed by the Corporation.”

The corporation’s PAC donates money on both sides of the aisle, according to a website that tracks donations, including to Republicans Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and Rep. Tony Gonzales of San Antonio. It has also given to Democratic Reps. Henry Cuellar of Laredo and Angie Craig of Minnesota.

McQueeny took aim at his opponent’s more direct involvement with a North Texas PAC, citing donations made by the Hammer and Nails PAC, the political arm of the Greater Fort Worth Builders Association.

Bean used to be the president of the Greater Fort Worth Builders Association.

McQueeny pointed out the PAC has donated to to Democratic state Reps. Nicole Collier and Ramon Romero of Fort Worth as well as Fort Worth city council members Elizabeth Beck and Chris Nettles, who represent Democratic leaning districts.

Bean and her company B Smart builders have donated $2,825 to the Hammer and Nails PAC since 2017.

“There is a huge difference between contributing to a local builders’ PAC and giving thousands to a national PAC that funds Nancy Pelosi’s agenda, “ Bean said in a statement.

Early voting began Monday and runs through Friday. Election day is May 28.