The battle for the Texas House got expensive.
Candidates in competitive seats collectively raised $39.3M during the past month, much of through in-kind contributions from a handful of sources. Republicans, bolstered by huge spending by Texans for Lawsuit Reform ($7.0M) and Republican State Leadership Committee ($5.6M) PACs, have a $24.2M to $15.1M advantage over the Democrats. Gov. Greg Abbott’s (R) campaign added nearly $2M to bolster Republicans, many of whom also received a portion of the $2.5M in contributions from Associated Republicans of Texas PAC.
On the Democratic side, the largest contributors were the Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee, which reported $5.3M in spending, the Texas Values in Action PAC ($1.7M) the Texas Trial Lawyers Assoc. PAC ($1.3M). The figures for the Democratic donors are their total spend for the month – so the amount they spent on these races is smaller. Several Democrats’ detailed reports were not yet available, likely because of the large numbers of micro-donors using online giving services such as ActBlue were itemized.
The 2020 total haul is more than six times the amount raised by candidates seeking competitive House seats over the same period in 2018.
At that time, we noted that a number of candidates running for competitive seats were “underfunded relative to the opportunity” to flip the seat. Not this year. The largest combined contribution total for a competitive House over the final month of the campaign was $576K. Twenty seats are over $1M in combined contributions received between September 25 and October 24.
The 10 highest combined totals for the month each exceed $1.6M:
- $2.96M – HD67 (Leach-R)
- $2.55M – HD112 (Button-R)
- $2.40M – HD121 (Allison-R)
- $2.14M – HD97 (Goldman-R)
- $1.93M – HD138 open (R)
- $1.78M – HD45 (Zwiener-D)
- $1.73M – HD96 open (R)
- $1.68M – HD113 (Bowers-D)
- $1.65M – HD26 open (R)
- $1.64M – HD47 (Goodwin-D)
Details from the 8-day-out reports are provided below. Keep in mind that the contribution figure includes mostly in-kind contributions, which act like spending, for most candidates. Except where we think it’s insightful, we won’t highlight spending figures and instead concentrate on contributions. We will cover the Senate and statewide races in another post.
For complete campaign finance results, visit our Crib Sheets, which we are still updating.
HD26 open (Toss Up): Republican nominee Jacey Jetton our-raised Democrat Sarah DeMerchant, $1.2M to $450K. Neither has more than $95K on hand.
Jetton’s largest contributors included Republican State Leadership Committee PAC ($347K), Texans for Lawsuit Reform ($311K), Associated Republicans of Texas PAC ($166K), Greg Abbott’s campaign ($80K), Houston Regional Business Coalition PAC ($53K), Texas House Republican Caucus ($35K), Texas Leads PAC ($25K) and Charter Schools Now PAC ($20K). DeMerchant’s largest contributors were Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee ($180K), Texans for Insurance Reform PAC ($63K), First Tuesday PAC ($50K).
Over the same period in 2018, DeMerchant raised $9K.
HD28 (Lean Republican): Rep. Gary Gates (R-Rosenberg) out-raised Democratic challenger Eliz Markowitz, $866K to $179K, including the $775K he contributed himself. Gates’s other largest contributor was Greg Abbott’s campaign ($79K). Markowitz’s largest contributor was the Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee ($94K).
HD29 (Lean Republican): Rep. Ed Thompson (R-Pearland) out-raised Democrat Travis Boldt, $149K to $102K, and holds a $196K to $7K advantage in cash on hand. Boldt’s largest contributor was the Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee ($72K).
HD31 (Lean Democratic): Rep. Ryan Guillen (D-Rio Grande City) out-raised Republican challenger Marian Knowlton, $97K to $15K, and he has a $447K to $3K advantage in cash on hand.
HD45 (Lean Democratic): Republican challenger Carrie Isaac out-raised Rep. Erin Zwiener (D-Driftwood), $1.1M to $728K, but she trails the incumbent in cash on hand, $197K to $76K.
Zwiener’s largest contributors included Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee ($252K), Texas Trial Lawyers Assoc. PAC ($100K), Sierra Club PAC ($45K), Flippable PAC ($35K) and AFSCME People PAC ($20K). Isaac’s largest contributors were Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC ($539K), Republican State Leadership Committee ($196K), Greg Abbott’s campaign ($120K), Associated Republicans of Texas PAC ($67K) and Texas House Republican Caucus PAC ($35K).
Over the same period in 2018, candidates for this seat raised $366K combined.
HD47 (Lean Democratic): Republican challenger Justin Berry out-raised Rep. Vikki Goodwin (D-Austin), 1.2M to $413K, and has a modest $140K to $90K advantage in cash on hand.
Goodwin’s largest contributors included Texas Trial Lawyers Assoc. PAC ($122K), Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee ($104K) and Lonestar Project ($20K). Berry’s largest contributors included Texans for Lawsuit Reform ($600K), Greg Abbott’s campaign ($249K), Associated Republicans of Texas PAC ($235K), Republican State Leadership Committee ($118K), Protect Our Police PAC ($50K), Republican Party of Texas ($25K) and Texas Leads PAC ($25K).
Over the same period in 2018, candidates for this seat raised $500K combined.
HD52 (Lean Democratic): Republican challenger Lucio Valdez narrowly out-raised Rep. James Talarico (D-Round Rock), $348K to $313K, but the incumbent enters the final week with a $152K to $5K advantage in cash on hand.
Talarico’s largest contributors included Texas Trial Lawyers Assoc. PAC ($84K), Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee ($54K) and Leadership for Educational Equity PAC ($50K). Valdez’s largest contributors were Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC ($263K) and Republican State Leadership Committee ($46K).
Over the same period in 2018, candidates for this seat raised $473K combined.
HD54 (Lean Republican): Rep. Brad Buckley (R-Salado) out-raised Democrat Keke Williams, $1.1M to $430K, and has a $200K cash on hand advantage.
Buckley’s largest contributors were Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC ($361K), Republican State Leadership Committee ($334K), Associated Republicans of Texas PAC ($124K), Greg Abbott’s campaign ($99K), Leading Texas Forward PAC ($50K) and Texas Leads PAC ($40K). William’s detailed report was not yet available.
HD64 (Lean Republican): Rep. Lynn Stucky (R-Sanger) out-raised Democratic challenger Angela Brewer, $525K to $444K. Stucky’s largest contributors were Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC ($144K), Greg Abbott’s campaign ($81K), Republican State Leadership Committee ($65K) and Associated Republicans of Texas PAC ($63K). Brewer’s largest contributors were Texas Values in Action Coalition PAC ($175K), Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee ($82K), Future Now Fund ($25K) and Annie’s List PAC ($21K).
HD65 (Lean Democratic): Republican challenger Kronda Thimesch out-raised Rep. Michelle Beckley (D-Carrollton), $891K to $484K, and has a 3-to-1 advantage in cash on hand.
Beckley’s largest contributors were Texas Trial Lawyers Assoc. PAC ($389K) and Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee ($179K). Thimesch’s largest contributors were Texans for Lawsuit Reform ($452K), Associated Republicans of Texas PAC ($171K), Greg Abbott’s campaign ($86K), Republican State Leadership Committee ($33K), Republican Party of Texas ($29K) and Texas Leads PAC ($25K).
HD66 (Toss Up): Rep. Matt Shaheen (R-Plano) out-raised Democrat Sharon Hirsch, $864K to $471K, and he has a $225K to $117K advantage in cash on hand.
Shaheen’s largest contributors were Texans for Lawsuit Reform ($396K), Republican State Leadership Committee ($163K), Greg Abbott’s campaign ($84K), Leading Texas Forward PAC ($50K), Texas Leads PAC ($40K) and Texas House Republican Caucus ($25K). Hirsch’s largest contributors were Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee ($111K), Texas Values in Action Coalition PAC ($109K), Sierra Club PAC ($41K) and Annie’s List ($21K).
Over the same period in 2018, these two candidates raised $220K.
HD67 (Toss Up): In the most expensive race in the period, Rep. Jeff Leach (R-Allen) out-raised Democratic challenger Lorenzo Sanchez, $1.7M to $1.25M. Leach has nearly three times more cash on hand ($411K to $140K).
Leach’s largest contributors were Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC ($749K), Republican State Leadership Committee ($457K), Greg Abbott’s campaign ($132K), Leading Texas Forward PAC ($75K), Texas House Republican Caucus PAC ($50K), Texas Assoc. of Realtors TREPAC ($44K), Republican Party of Texas ($40K), Texas Leads PAC ($40K), Associated Republicans of Texas PAC ($30K) and Michael Porter Family Trust ($30K). Sanchez’s detailed report was not yet available.
HD92 (Lean Republican): Democratic nominee Jeff Whitfield out-raised Republican Jeff Cason, $481K to $392K, and they each have $108K on hand. Cason’s largest contributor was Midland oil and gas executive Tim Dunn ($350K), who accounted for nearly 90% of his contributions for the period. Whitfield’s largest contributors were Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee ($136K) and Texans for Insurance Reform PAC ($125K).
HD93 (Lean Republican): Democratic challenger Lydia Bean out-raised Rep. Matt Krause (R-Fort Worth), $644K to $560K, but he has a narrow lead in cash on hand, $114K to $99K. Krause’s largest contributors were Republican State Leadership Committee ($170K), Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC ($151K) and Greg Abbott’s campaign ($79K). Bean’s detailed report was not yet available.
HD94 (Toss Up): Rep. Tony Tinderholt (R-Arlington) out-raised Democrat Alisa Simmons, $525K to $451K, and he holds a $169K to $113K edge in cash on hand. Tinderholt’s largest contributors were Midland oil and gas executive Tim Dunn ($250K), Leading Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC ($97K), Mansfield property management company executive Stephen Lockwood ($50K), Texas Forward PAC ($38K) and Charter Schools Now PAC ($28K). Simmons’s detailed report was not yet available.
HD96 open (Toss Up): Republican nominee David Cook out-raised Democrat Joe Drago, $1.2M to $567K, and has a 4-to-1 advantage in cash on hand.
Cook’s largest contributors were Republican State Leadership Committee ($573K), Associated Republicans of Texas PAC ($213K), Greg Abbott’s campaign ($102K), Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC ($93K) and Charter Schools Now PAC ($24K). Drago’s largest contributors were Texas Valued in Action Coalition PAC ($164K), Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee ($94K), Future Now Fund ($50K), Flippable PAC ($40K) and One Texas PAC ($20K).
HD97 (Lean Republican): Rep. Craig Goldman (R-Fort Worth) out-raised Democratic challenger Elizabeth Beck, $1.2M to $921K, but trails her, $158K to $33K, in cash on hand. Goldman’s largest contributors were Republican State Leadership Committee ($348K), Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC ($212K), Greg Abbott’s campaign ($99K), Republican Party of Texas ($64K), Texas House Republican Caucus PAC ($50K), Texas Leads PAC ($40K), Associated Republicans of Texas PAC ($26K) and Fort Worth executive Lee Bass ($20K). Beck’s detailed report was not yet available.
HD102 (Lean Democratic): Former Rep. Linda Koop (R-Dallas) out-raised Rep. Ana-Maria Ramos (D-Dallas), $425K to $122K. Each has a little over $100K on hand. Koop’s largest contributors were Associated Republicans of Texas PAC ($130K), Republican State Leadership Committee ($92K), Greg Abbott’s campaign ($59K), Republican Party of Texas ($25K) and Texas Assoc. of Realtors TREPAC ($20K).
Over the same period in 2018, these two candidates seat raised $527K combined. Ramos was out-raised over the same period then, $458K to $69K.
HD108 (Likely Democratic): Rep. Morgan Meyer (R-Dallas) out-raised Democratic challenger Joanna Cattanach, $701K to $516K, and he has a $212K to $141K advantage in cash on hand.
Meyer’s largest contributors were Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC ($322K), Associated Republicans of Texas PAC ($117K), Republican State Leadership Committee ($47K), Michael Porter Family Trust ($30K), Texas House Republican Caucus PAC ($25K) and Leading Texas Forward PAC ($20K). Cattanach’s detailed report was not yet available.
Over the same period in 2018, these two candidates raised $222K combined.
HD112 (Toss Up): The second most expensive House seat in the period saw Rep. Angie Chen Button (R-Garland) out-raised challenger Brandy Chambers, $1.5M to $1.0M, and she leads the Democrat, $415K to $134K, in cash on hand.
Button’s largest contributors were Texans for Lawsuit Reform ($468K), Republican State Leadership Committee ($340K), Associated Republicans of Texas PAC ($221K), Leading Texas Forward PAC ($100K), Greg Abbott’s campaign ($70K), Texas Assoc. of Realtors TREPAC ($56K), Texas Leads PAC ($40K), Texas House Republican Caucus PAC ($25K), Charter Schools Now PAC ($24K) and Doss rancher Michael Porter ($20K). Chambers’s detailed report was not yet available.
Over the same period in 2018, candidates for this seat raised $276K combined.
HD113 (Lean Democratic): Republican challenger Will Douglas out-raised Rep. Rhetta Bowers (D-Rowlett) by nearly a million dollars, $1.3M to $366K.
Bowers’s largest contributors were Texas Trial Lawyers Assoc. PAC ($184K) and Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee ($50K). Douglas’s largest contributors were Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC ($529K), Republican State Leadership Committee ($418K), Associated Republicans of Texas PAC ($163K) and Conroe pharmacist Richard Ray ($50K).
Over the same period in 2018, candidates for this seat raised $263K combined.
HD114 (Likely Democratic): Republican Luisa Del Rosal out-raised Rep. John Turner (D-Dallas), $438K to $166K. iDel Rosal’s largest contributors were Republican State Leadership Committee ($149K), Greg Abbott’s campaign ($71K), Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC ($61K), Republican Party of Texas ($34K) and Associated Republicans of Texas ($22K).
Over the same period in 2018, candidates for this seat raised $576K combined.
HD121 (Lean Republican): Rep. Steve Allison (R-San Antonio) out-raised Democratic challenger Celina Montoya, $1.7M to $748K, but he narrowly trails her, $187K to $146K, in cash on hand.
Allison’s largest contributors were Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC ($504K), Republican State Leadership Committee ($370K), Associated Republicans of Texas PAC ($262K), Greg Abbott’s campaign ($117K), Leading Texas Forward PAC ($75K), Texas Assoc. of Realtors TREPAC ($42K), Texas House Republican Caucus ($25K) and Doss rancher Michael Porter ($25K). Montoya’s detailed report was not yet available.
Over the same period in 2018, these two candidates raised $117K combined.
HD126 (Lean Republican): Rep. Sam Harless (R-Spring) nearly doubled up Democratic challenger Natali Hurtado, $1M to $532K, and he has nearly $350K more on hand.
Harless’s largest contributors were Republican State Leadership Committee ($475K), Greg Abbott’s campaign ($79K), Leading Texas Forward PAC ($77K), Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC ($53K) Associated Republicans of Texas PAC ($52K), Texas Leads PAC ($40K) and Texas House Republican Caucus PAC ($25K). Hurtado’s detailed report was not yet available.
Over the same period in 2018, these two candidates raised $77K, of which $3K was raised by Hurtado.
HD132 (Lean Democratic): Former Rep. Mike Schofield (R-Katy) out-raised Rep. Gina Calanni (D-Katy), $1M to $574K. She has a slight edge in cash on hand, $114K to $87K.
Calanni’s largest contributors were Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee ($177K), Texas Trial Lawyers Assoc. PAC ($130K), First Tuesday PAC ($50K), Texas Assoc. of Realtors TREPAC ($30K) and 7th Amendment PAC ($25K). Schofield’s largest contributors were Republican State Leadership Committee ($487K), Associated Republicans of Texas PAC ($123K), Greg Abbott’s campaign ($93K), Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC ($82K), The C Club PAC ($37K), Texas House Republican Caucus PAC ($35K), Houston Regional Business Coalition PAC ($25K).
Over the same period in 2018, these two candidates raised $200K combined.
HD134 (Lean Democratic): Democratic challenger Ann Johnson out-raised Rep. Sarah Davis (R-Houston), $697K to $405K, a surprisingly low total for the incumbent relative to others in competitive seats. Davis has the edge in cash on hand, $191K to $139K.
Davis’s largest contributors were Greg Abbott’s campaign ($79K), The C Club PAC ($37K) and Associated Republicans of Texas PAC ($22K). Johnson’s detailed report was not yet available.
Over the same period in 2018, candidates for this seat raised $424K combined, of which Davis raised $388K, just $17K less than her 2020 total.
HD135 (Lean Democratic): Republican challenger Justin Ray out-raised Rep. Jon Rosenthal (D-Houston), $623K To $501K, and the incumbent has a $100K cash on hand advantage.
Rosenthal’s largest contributors were Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee ($206K), Texas Trial Lawyers Assoc. PAC ($128K) and First Tuesday PAC ($50K). Ray’s largest contributors were Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC ($219K), Associated Republicans of Texas PAC ($124K) and Houston Realty Business Coalition ($63K).
Over the same period in 2018, candidates for this seat raised $80K combined.
HD138 open (Lean Democratic): Republican nominee Lacey Hull out-raised Democrat Akilah Bacy, $1.1M to $780K. Bacy has a narrow $154K to $137K edge in cash on hand.
Hull’s largest contributors were Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC ($441K), Republican State Leadership Committee ($337K), Associated Republicans of Texas PAC ($172K), Houston Realty Business Coalition PAC ($39K), Texas House Republican Caucus PAC ($35K), Charter Schools Now PAC ($26K) and Texas Leads PAC ($25K).
Over the same period in 2018, candidates for this seat raised $176K combined.
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