U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Laredo) is “not a target” of a federal investigation that included an FBI raid on his home and campaign headquarters earlier this year, according to his attorney. The raid occurred less than a month before early voting began for the March primary for CD28 (Lean D). Cuellar finished first in the three-way primary with 48% of the vote but was forced into a runoff by his 2020 primary challenger Jessica Cisneros (47%).
In campaign finance reports filed on Friday, Cisneros out-raised Cuellar by nearly $1M – $1.7M to $749K – and outspent him, $1.1M to $580M. He has a $1.4M to $1.0M advantage in cash on hand. She has now out-raised him for the election cycle, $3.2M to $2.7M, and has already raised $1.3M more than she did during her 2020 campaign.
The candidates’ April quarterly reports disclose contributions received and expenditures made between February 10 and March 31.
13 incumbent U.S. representatives and candidates reported having at least $1M on hand:
- $5.01M – U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin) in CD37 (Safe D)
- $3.26M – U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Houston) in CD2 (Safe R)
- $2.14M – U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D-Houston) in CD7 (Likely D)
- $1.86M – Wesley Hunt (R) in open CD38 (Safe R)
- $1.76M – U.S. Rep. Colin Allred (D-Dallas) in CD32 (Safe D)
- $1.62M – U.S. Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-Irving) in CD24 (Likely R)
- $1.58M – U.S. Rep. August Pfluger (R-San Angelo), who is unopposed in CD11 (Safe R)
- $1.44M – U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Laredo), who faces Jessica Cisneros in the runoff for CD28 (Lean D)
- $1.34M – U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-McAllen) in CD34 (Likely D)
- $1.27M – U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-Lubbock), who faces only independent candidates in CD19 (Safe R)
- $1.25M – U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-San Antonio) in CD23 (Lean R)
- $1.09M – U.S. Rep. Chip Roy (R-Austin) in CD21 (Safe R)
- $1.04M – Jessica Cisneros (D), who faces Cuellar in the CD28 runoff
U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R) and John Cornyn (R), neither of whom are up for election this cycle, reported having $4.8M and $1.1M on hand, respectively.
Cisneros ($1.7M) and Crenshaw ($1.25M) were the only candidates to raise at least $1M for the period. Cruz raised nearly $1.5M during the quarter. Cruz has raised $14.8M and spent $15.0M for the election cycle so far even though he is not on the ballot this year.
CD15 open (Toss Up): Ruben Ramirez (D) out-raised runoff opponent Michelle Vallejo, $219K to $113K, and outspent her, $176K to $157K. He holds a narrow $100K to $83K advantage in cash on hand. Vallejo’s $100K loan balance helped narrow the gap. Republican nominee Monica De la Cruz-Hernandez raised $510K and has $362K on hand.
CD30 open (Safe D): Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Dallas) out-raised Jane Hope Hamilton, $247K to $167K, and outspent her, $210K to $153K. Crockett has a narrow $118K to $95K advantage in cash on hand.
CD34 special (Lean R): Mayra Flores (R) raised $140K during the period and has $121K on hand.
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