7
Number of Texas U.S. representatives who exit the 2015-16 federal election cycle with more than $1M cash on hand.
Post-general campaign finance reports were due late last week for federal candidates on the general election ballot. Seven of the state’s 36 incumbents and U.S. Rep.-elects reported at least $1M on hand, one more than in 2014.
A pair of Democrats – U.S. Reps. Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin) and Henry Cuellar (D-Laredo) – have the biggest war chests, and both were among the incumbents posting the biggest increases over the same time two years ago.
U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Austin) ranked 27th with less than $200K on hand. While he has more on hand now than two years ago, the possible primary challenger to U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz has a significantly smaller war chest. Cruz was not required to file a report at this time, but he reported $3.3M on hand as of September 30.
Congressional Incumbents’ Cash on Hand After General Election
$3,627,096 – Lloyd Doggett (up $499K from the end of 2013-14)
$2,087,621 – Henry Cuellar (up $678K)
$2,080,906 – Ted Poe (up $212K)
$1,461,950 – Kevin Brady (up $720K)
$1,406,594 – Mike Conaway (up $320K)
$1,379,861 – Kenny Marchant (up $457K)
$1,101,960 – Gene Green (down $106K)
$967,729 – Roger Williams (up $478K)
$695,459 – Jeb Hensarling (down $949K)
$593,336 – Lamar Smith (down $216K)
$574,743 – Brian Babin (up $371K)
$566,780 – Mac Thornberry (up $179K)
$541,255 – Pete Sessions (down $233K)
$504,887 – Pete Olson (up $136K)
$499,638 – Michael Burgess (up $261K)
$463,288 – Kay Granger (up $271K)
$455,476 – Sam Johnson (down $72K)
$433,129 – John Carter (down $186K)
$385,686 – Marc Veasey (up $158K)
$377,000 – Randy Weber (up $89K)
$336,718 – Joe Barton (down $186K)
$290,162 – Jodey Arrington*
$299,642 – Bill Flores (down $47K)
$266,385 – Filemon Vela (up $192K)
$241,431 – Al Green (up $8K)
$211,923 – Beto O’Rourke (up $37K)
$192,972 – Michael McCaul (up $74K)
$156,748 – Joaquin Castro (down $134K)
$132,159 – Sheila Jackson Lee (down $78K)
$130,992 – John Culberson (up $47K)
$122,837 – Will Hurd (up $52K)
$122,028 – John Ratcliffe (up $14K)
$121,685 – Vicente Gonzalez*
$95,309 – Eddie Bernice Johnson (up $3K)
$80,435 – Blake Farenthold (down $41K)
$43,224 – Louie Gohmert (down $145K)
* indicates new member
A pair of Republicans – U.S. Reps. Blake Farenthold (R-Corpus Christi) and Louie Gohmert (R-Tyler) – have the smallest war chests.
Twenty-one incumbents raised more money this cycle than the previous cycle. Eighteen incumbents spent more money this cycle than the previous cycle, while 15 spent less.
Far and away, the CD23 race won by U.S. Rep. Will Hurd (R-San Antonio) over former U.S. Rep. Pete Gallego (D-Alpine) was the most expensive in the state. The two candidates raised just over $6M and spent $6.1M between them. An additional $11M in independent expenditures were made in support of or opposing them. Only eight other congressional races drew a higher amount of independent expenditures.
Two years ago, the candidates for CD23 raised and spent just short of $4M between them. As the incumbent, Gallego raised $2.6M for the 2013-14 cycle. He raised $500K less this cycle. As the challenger, Hurd raised $1.3M. As the incumbent, he raised nearly three times that amount. While still an expensive race, “just” $5.3M in independent expenditures – less than half of this cycle’s amount – were made in 2014.
