State and legislative candidates required to file 8-day-out reports raised nearly $12.7 million between January 22 and February 20, and they spent $19.3 million. Much of the primary action is in the House, where contested primary candidates accounted for $10.3 million in contributions (81%) and $12.1 million in expenditures (63%). At least 31 House candidates raised $100K or more for the period.
As primary campaigns near the finish line, big contributions become more important than raising money from small donors in the district. Thus most contributions during the final weeks come from outside the district, and, often, from a small number of wealthy donors and PACs. This year is no exception. Ten PACs or groups accounted for more than $4.5 million, or 35%, of all contributions reported for the period. This is not an exhaustive analysis, so some other combination of 10 PACs or groups could have combined for an even larger total.
Empower Texans PAC ($1,003,725)
$104,831 – Bo French (HD99)
$79,188 – Valoree Swanson (HD150)
$56,526 – Terry Wilson (HD20)
$50,526 – Jess Fields (HD14)
$50,526 – Jim Landtroop (HD84)
$50,526 – Thomas McNutt (HD8)
$35,750 – Jay Wiley (HD47)
$35,687 – Rep. Jonathan Stickland (HD92)
$31,776 – Kyle Biedermann (HD73)
$30,000 – Read King (HD64 open)
$28,750 – Jonathan Boos (HD113)
$28,750 – Rep. Tony Tinderholt (HD94)
$26,750 – Bryan Slaton (HD2)
$25,000 – Michael Massengale (SC3)
$25,000 – Ray Wheless (CCA2 open nomination)
$23,750 – Dan Morenoff (HD114)
$23,750 – David Watts (HD7 open)
$18,750 – Josh Crawford (HD81)
$18,000 – Philip Eby (HD58)
$15,000 – Keith Strahan (HD18 open)
$13,750 – Cole Hefner (HD5 open)
$13,750 – Rep. Molly White (HD55)
$10,526 – Briscoe Cain (HD128)
$10,000 – Brent Webster (CCA5 open)
$7,341 – Sheila Bean (HD121)
$7,341 – Jeff Judson (HD121)
$5,000 – David Palmer (HD134)
$4,831 – Rep. Stuart Spitzer (HD4)
$4,000 – NE Tarrant Tea Party PAC
$3,750 – Mike Lang (HD60 open)
$3,750 – Rep. Matt Rinaldi (HD115)
$1,081 – Brent Mayes (SD24 open)
Boldface indicates challenger.
Texans for Education Reform ($647,169)
$192,073 – Chente Quintanilla (HD75)
$126,666 – George Lavender (HD1)
$25,000 – Rep. Dan Huberty (HD127)
$25,000 – Sen. Eddie Lucio (SD27)
$25,000 – Abraham Padron (HD36)
$15,000 – Donna Bahorich (ED6) no primary opponent
$15,000 – Rep. Cindy Burkett (HD113)
$15,000 – Rep. John Cyrier (HD17)
$15,000 – Rep. Jodie Laubenberg (HD89)
$15,000 – Rep. Doug Miller (HD73)
$15,000 – Rep. Debbie Riddle (HD150)
$15,000 – Rep. Tony Tinderholt (HD94)
$12,500 – Rep. Jason Villalba (HD114)
$10,000 – Rep. DeWayne Burns (HD58)
$10,000 – Rep. Angie Chen Button (HD112)
$10,000 – Rep. Sarah Davis (HD134)
$10,000 – Rep. Pat Fallon (HD106)
$10,000 – Rep. Dan Flynn (HD2)
$10,000 – Rep. Charlie Geren (HD99)
$10,000 – Rep. Ron Simmons (HD65)
$10,000 – Rep. Wayne Smith (HD128)
$10,000 – Rep. Jonathan Stickland (HD92)
$10,000 – Rep. Molly White (HD55)
$10,000 – Rep. Paul Workman (HD47)
$10,000 – Rep. Bill Zedler (HD96)
Boldface indicates challenger.
Texas House Leadership Fund ($584,250)
$119,100 – Rep. Byron Cook (HD8)
$66,000 – Rep. Gary VanDeaver (HD1)
$65,000 – Rep. John Cyrier (HD17)
$50,000 – Rep. John Raney (HD14)
$45,000 – Rep. DeWayne Burns (HD58)
$45,000 – Rep. Marcia Farney (HD20)
$25,000 – Rep. Dan Flynn (HD2)
$25,000 – Rep. Doug Miller (HD73)
$25,000 – Rep. Debbie Riddle (HD150)
$15,000 – Rep. John Frullo (HD84)
$15,000 – Life PAC
$15,000 – Rep. J.D. Sheffield (HD59)
$15,000 – Rep. Wayne Smith (HD128)
$15,000 – Texas Alliance for Life PAC
$12,900 – Rep. Ron Simmons (HD65)
$11,500 – Rep. Jodie Laubenberg (HD89)
$10,000 – Rep. Cindy Burkett (HD113)
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC ($538,167)
$150,000 – Abraham Padron (HD36)
$62,372 – Rep. Bryan Hughes (SD1 open)
$50,000 – Rep. Paul Workman (HD47)
$42,017 – Rep. Jason Villalba (HD114)
$35,000 – Rep. Debbie Riddle (HD150)
$34,900 – Rep. Doug Miller (HD73)
$30,000 – Rep. Cindy Burkett (HD113)
$20,000 – Rep. John Raney (HD14)
$15,000 – Rep. Sarah Davis (HD134)
$10,000 – Jay Dean (HD7 open)
$10,000 – Rep. Dan Flynn (HD2)
$10,000 – Rep. Stuart Spitzer (HD4)
$5,000 – Sen. Donna Campbell (SD25) not up for election this year
$5,000 – Rep. John Cyrier (HD17)
$5,000 – Rep. Stan Lambert (HD71 open)
$5,000 – Rep. Wayne Smith (HD128)
$4,865 – Speaker Joe Straus (HD121)
$2,854 – Michael Massengale (SC3)
$2,853 – Justice Eva Guzman (SC9)
$2,843 – Justice Paul Green (SC5)
$1,500 – Rep. Angie Chen Button (HD112)
$1,500 – Rep. Byron Cook (HD8)
$1,500 – Rep. Jonathan Stickland (HD92)
$1,500 – Rep. Tony Tinderholt (HD94)
$1,500 – Rep. James White (HD19) unopposed for re-election
$1,250 – Rep. John Lujan (HD118)
$1,000 – Rep. Stephanie Klick (HD91) unopposed for re-election
Boldface indicates challenger.
Texas Assoc. of Realtors TREPAC (~$470,000)
$57,650 – Justin Holland (HD33 open)
$37,500 – Rep. John Cyrier (HD17)
$35,000 – Rep. Charlie Geren (HD99)
$29,050 – Rep. DeWayne Burns (HD58)
$26,500 – Rep. Bryan Hughes (SD1 open)
$25,900 – Speaker Joe Straus (HD121)
$17,250 – Rep. Jason Villalba (HD114)
$16,300 – Rep. Byron Cook (HD8)
$15,040 – Rep. Rene Oliveira (HD37)
$14,650 – Kevin Downing (HD60 open)
$13,950 – Rep. Paul Workman (HD47)
$10,000 – Rep. Dan Flynn (HD2)
$10,000 – Justice Paul Green (SD5)
$10,000 – Justice Debra Lehrmann (SC3)
$10,000 – Rep. Doug Miller (HD73)
$10,000 – Rep. John Raney (HD14)
$10,000 – Bennett Ratliff (HD115)
$8,950 – Rep. Cindy Burkett (HD113)
$8,950 – Rep. Brooks Landgraf (HD81)
$7,750 – Rep. Wayne Smith (HD128)
$7,500 – Rep. Debbie Riddle (HD150)
$5,240 – Rep. Angie Chen Button (HD112)
$5,000 – Rep. Travis Clardy (HD11)
$5,000 – Rep. Sarah Davis (HD134)
$5,000 – Jay Dean (HD7 open)
$5,000 – Rep. Marcia Farney (HD20)
$5,000 – Rep. Jessica Farrar (HD148)
$5,000 – Rep. Jodie Laubenberg (HD89)
$5,000 – Rep. J.D. Sheffield (HD59)
$5,000 – Hugh Shine (HD55)
$5,000 – Rep. Ron Simmons (HD65)
$5,000 – Rep. Gary VanDeaver (HD1)
$5,000 – Rep. Hubert Vo (HD149)
$2,570 – Rep. John Frullo (HD84)
$2,500 – Rep. Alma Allen (HD131)
$2,500 – Rep. Dan Huberty (HD127)
$2,500 – Rep. Ina Minjarez (HD124)
$2,500 – Rep. Toni Rose (HD110)
$2,500 – Rep. Eugene Wu (HD137)
$1,000 – Martin Golando (HD116 open)
$1,000 – Art Hall (HD120 open)
$1,000 – Rep. Bill Zedler (HD96)
$900 – Sen. Jose Menendez (SD26)
$500 – Lance Gooden (HD4)
$500 – Rep. Jonathan Stickland (HD92)
$500 – Rep. Tony Tinderholt (HD94)
$250 – Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer (SD26)
Boldface indicates challenger.
Constituents Focus PAC ($335,585)
$55,102 – Jeff Judson (HD121)
$26,194 – Jonathan Boos (HD113)
$25,584 – Valoree Swanson (HD150)
$23,997 – Keith Strahan (HD18 open)
$23,934 – Briscoe Cain (HD128)
$23,826 – Brent Golemon (HD17)
$23,771 – Rep. Stuart Spitzer (HD4)
$23,501 – Mike Lang (HD60 open)
$23,381 – Bryan Slaton (HD2)
$23,066 – Read King (HD64 open)
$7,778 – Chris DeHart (HD112)
$6,276 – Bo French (HD99)
$4,761 – Philip Eby (HD58)
$4,500 – Sheila Bean (HD121)
$4,457 – Dawn Buckingham (SD24 open)
$4,433 – David Watts (HD7 open)
$3,762 – Dan Morenoff (HD114)
$3,527 – Jess Fields (HD14)
$3,432 – Cole Hefner (HD5 open)
$2,804 – Jay Wiley (HD47)
$2,507 – Mitch Bosworth (HD127)
$2,505 – Jim Landtroop (HD84)
$2,195 – Josh Crawford (HD81)
$2,183 – Chris Carnohan (HD71 open)
$2,064 – Rep. Molly White (HD55)
$1,806 – Thomas McNutt (HD8)
$1,769 – Terry Wilson (HD20)
$1,035 – Rep. Matt Rinaldi (HD115)
$238 – Brent Graves (HD59)
Boldface indicates challenger.
Associated Republicans of Texas (~$314,000)
$34,971 – Rep. Doug Miller (HD73)
$34,912 – Rep. DeWayne Burns (HD58)
$33,800 – Rep. Gary VanDeaver (HD1)
$25,827 – Rep. John Cyrier (HD17)
$19,932 – Rep. John Lujan (HD118)
$19,729 – Rep. John Frullo (HD84)
$19,638 – Rep. Jason Villalba (HD114)
$18,657 – Rep. Marcia Farney (HD20)
$17,706 – Rep. Dan Flynn (HD2)
$14,699 – Rep. Cindy Burkett (HD113)
$10,030 – Rep. Sarah Davis (HD134)
$10,000 – Stan Lambert (HD71 open)
$10,000 – Rep. John Raney (HD14)
$9,474 – Rep. Debbie Riddle (HD150)
$8,128 – Kevin Downing (HD60 open)
$7,070 – Speaker Joe Straus (HD121)
$6,111 – Rep. Byron Cook (HD8)
$5,110 – Rep. Brooks Landgraf (HD81)
$5,045 – Jay Dean (HD7 open)
$4,843 – Rep. Charlie Geren (HD99)
$3,685 – Rep. Wayne Smith (HD128)
Texas Right to Life PAC ($256,881)
$61,957 – Thomas McNutt (HD8)
$35,016 – Valoree Swanson (HD150)
$17,626 – Bo French (HD99)
$10,829 – Jess Fields (HD14)
$10,425 – Rep. Jonathan Stickland (HD92)
$9,079 – Michael Massengale (SC3)
$8,975 – Rep. Matt Rinaldi (HD115)
$7,830 – Mike Lang (HD60 open)
$7,750 – Dan Morenoff (HD114)
$6,929 – Rick Green (SC5)
$6,929 – Brent Webster (CCA5 open)
$6,929 – Ray Wheless (CCA2 open nomination)
$6,646 – Rep. Molly White (HD55)
$6,220 – Rep. Stuart Spitzer (HD4)
$4,841 – Cole Hefner (HD5 open)
$2,671 – Sheila Bean (HD121)
$2,671 – Jeff Judson (HD121)
$2,671 – Terry Wilson (HD20)
$2,655 – Keith Strahan (HD18 open)
$2,586 – Brent Mayes (SD24 open)
$2,119 – Brent Graves (HD59)
$1,987 – Rep. Bryan Hughes (SD1 open)
$1,200 – John Keating (HD33 open)
Boldface indicates challenger.
Texas Trial Lawyers Assoc. PAC ($140,772)
$49,975 – Sen. Carlos Uresti (SD19)
$41,276 – Rep. Sergio Munoz Jr. (HD36)
$17,619 – Rep. Mary Gonzalez (HD75)
$5,000 – Rep. Byron Cook (HD8)
$5,000 – Rep. Rene Oliveira (HD37)
$5,000 – Rep. Toni Rose (HD110)
$4,402 – Rep. Gene Wu (HD137)
$3,000 – Rep. Alma Allen (HD131)
$3,000 – Rep. Ina Minjarez (HD124)
$2,500 – Martin Golando (HD116 open)
Conservative Republicans of Texas (~$121,000)
$81,000 – Jeff Judson (HD121)
$10,300 – Thomas McNutt (HD8)
$9,100 – David Palmer (HD134)
$8,578 – Valoree Swanson (HD150)
$6,000 – Briscoe Cain (HD128)
$5,100 – Bo French (HD99)
$4,300 – Jonathan Boos (HD113)
Boldface indicates challenger.
The group gave $99K to the Conservative Republicans of Houston, which spent more than $90K on a mail piece but did not identify who the piece benefited. That $90K is included in the overall total of $4.5 million stated in this report.
Empower Texans PAC contributed just over $1 million, and it appears to be the single largest contributor to primary races for the period. Almost 83% of its contributions went to candidates who are challenging Republican incumbents and who, presumably, would vote against the re-election of Speaker Joe Straus in January. Texans for Education Reform contributed $647K, over half of which went to three challengers: Chente Quintanilla in HD75, George Lavender in HD1 and Abraham Padron in HD36. Padron was the largest single recipient of contributions from Texans for Lawsuit Reform ($150K), which gave a total of $538K to candidates, mostly incumbents. Constituents Focus PAC spent $336K and Texas Right to Life PAC spent $257K, mostly on challengers. Conservative Republicans of Texas spent $122K exclusively on challengers.
With the exception of two contributions to anti-abortion PACs, the Texas House Leadership Fund contributed solely to Republican House incumbents. The PAC, which is aligned with Speaker Joe Straus, spent $584K. The Texas Assoc. of Realtors TREPAC spent approximately $470K, mostly on incumbents. The Associated Republicans of Texas spent about $314K on incumbents and two open-seat candidates. The Texas Trial Lawyer Assoc. PAC spent just over $140K, all on Democratic incumbents except for a $5K contribution to Rep. Byron Cook (R-Corsicana) and $2.5K to Democratic open-seat candidate Martin Golando.
Several individuals contributed at least $25K to one candidate for the period, including:
- $180,000 to HD121 challenger Jeff Judson from Alice Walton
- $70,000 to Rep. Jonathan Stickland from Farris & Jo Ann Wilks
- $50,000 to HD92 challenger Scott Fisher from Charles Butt
- $50,000 to RRC candidate John Greytok from Robert McNair
- $50,000 to SD26 challenger Trey Martinez Fischer from Rusty Kelley
- $50,000 to HD150 challenger Valoree Swanson from Holloway Frost
- $32,500 to HD60 open-seat candidate Kevin Downing from Charles Butt
- $32,000 to Rep. Jonathan Stickland from Tim Dunn
- $25,000 to Rep. Byron Cook from Charles Butt
- $25,000 to HD92 challenger Scott Fisher from Ross Perot Jr.
- $25,000 to HD121 challenger Jeff Judson from James Leininger
- $25,000 to HD115 challenger Bennett Ratliff from Charles Butt
Those individuals’ contributions total $615K, which brings the grand total of contributions highlighted in this report to more than $5.1 million, or 40% of all contributions received by contested primary candidates for the period covered by 8-day-out reports.
