Federal Campaign Finance Update

Federal candidates were required to file end-of-year reports covering by January 31. These reports disclose contributions received and expenditures made during the last quarter of 2015. We have a few quick observations about these reports:

• Very few primary challengers appear able to run viable campaigns, based on their contributions and expenditures, and most incumbents should be viewed as very heavy favorites. These primary challengers have the most cash on hand:
  • Simon Winston in CD1 has $302K on hand, more than U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert’s (R-Tyler) $178K, thanks to a $306K loan balance.
  • Lou Gigliotti in CD4 has $98K on hand, but U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-Rockwall) has nearly $300K more.
  • James Lloyd in CD7 has $71K on hand, about one third the amount held by U.S. Rep. John Culberson (R-Houston).
  • Adrian Garcia in CD29 has $73K on hand, well short of the $1.25 million held by U.S. Rep. Gene Green (D-Houston).
  • Russ Ramsland in CD32 has $169K on hand after raising $235K (the most by any challenger), but U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Dallas) has 5-to-1 advantage in cash on hand.
• Former Rep. Steve Toth (R-The Woodlands) raised $64K and has $42K on hand, but those totals are an order of magnitude below U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady (R-The Woodlands), who raised $734K and has $1.45 million on hand.
• Former U.S. Rep. Pete Gallego (D-Alpine) raised $223K, the second most of any challenger, and more than all but seven incumbents. U.S. Rep. Will Hurd was one of the seven. He raised $309K and has just over $1 million on hand. Gallego’s $424K on hand is the most for any challenger.
• In open CD15, Dolly Elizondo raised more than all her rivals combined, but Vicente Gonzalez has more than $520K on hand, thanks to more than $760K in loans.
• In open CD19, Jodey Arrington ($279K) raised more than twice as much as his nearest rivals, Michael Bob Starr ($131K) and Glen Robertson ($111K). He also leads them in cash on hand. Four candidates – the three mentioned and Donald May – each have at least $100K on hand.
• S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin) has the most cash on hand ($3.3 million). U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-Corpus Christi) has the least cash on hand ($141K) of any incumbent, but it’s $135K more than his primary opponent.

Federal pre-primary reports are due February 18.