Early voting continues through Friday for the HD10 special runoff and HD118 special elections. In Ellis Co., just over 1K people voted early in HD10 today (Tuesday), bringing the two-day total to nearly 2K. In Bexar Co., early turnout in HD118 remains below 1K votes cast.

Candidates’ 8-day-out campaign finance reports were due yesterday (Monday) and available online today.

HD10 special: Former U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services official Brian Harrison (R) narrowly out-raised former Rep. John Wray (R-Waxahachie), $97K to $95K, but was outspent by the former legislator, $147K to $24K. Harrison holds an $81K to $61K advantage in cash on hand with one week to go before the election.

Harrison’s biggest contributors for the period were Texas Right to Life PAC ($20K), Rep. Mayes Middleton (R-Wallisville) ($10K), Ovilla retiree Ed Harrison ($7K), Austin retiree Stacy Hock ($5K) and Austin tech executive Joe Lonsdale ($5K). He also received contributions from Reps. Jeff Cason (R-Bedford), Bryan Slaton (R-Royse City), Tony Tinderholt (R-Arlington) and former U.S. Rep. Bill Flores (R-Bryan). Wray’s largest contributors were the Texas Assoc. of Realtors TREPAC ($10K), Texas Alliance for Life PAC ($10K), ATPE PAC ($5K), Wacahachie-based B&B Utility Contractors LLC ($5K), Texas Farm Bureau AGFUND ($5K), Texas Land Title Assoc. PAC ($5K) and Texas Medical Assoc. TEXPAC ($5K).

HD118 special: Former Rep. John Lujan (R-San Antonio) raised more than double the contribution total of the three Democrats in the race combined. Lujan’s campaign spent $62K and he has $75K on hand with a week to go to the special election. Lujan’s largest contributors for the period were Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC ($60K), Associated Republicans of Texas PAC ($28K), Texas Latino Conservatives ($25K), Speaker Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) ($21K) and Houston alcohol distributor John Nau ($5K). Lujan also received a contribution from former Sen. Pete Flores (R-Pleasanton). Adam Salyer’s (R) report was not yet available.

Among the Democrats, Katie Farias narrowly out-raised Desi Martinez, $30K to $27K, but Martinez outspent her, $77K to $13K, and holds a $23K to $12K edge in cash on hand over Farias. Martinez’s spending advantage was fueled significantly by $61K in loans. Farias’s largest contributors for the period was San Antonio physician Daniel Kellum Jr. ($8K). She also received contributions from her former employer Sen. Roland Gutierrez (D-San Antonio) and former Rep. Joe Farias (D-San Antonio), her father-in-law. Martinez’s top contributor was San Antonio attorney Andrew Toscano ($10K).

Frank Ramirez (D) raised $16K, spent $9K and has $3K on hand. Ramirez’s top contributors were San Antonio businessman Roger Legrand ($3K) and former Rep. Leo Pacheco (D-San Antonio) ($2K). He also received a contribution from Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff (D).

SD12 open: Former Sen. John Carona (R-Dallas) announced he would not seek the seat of the retiring Sen. Jane Nelson (R-Flower Mound).

SD24 open: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R), Sen. Dawn Buckingham (R-Lakeway) and former Gov. Rick Perry (R) endorsed former Sen. Pete Flores (R-Pleasanton) for the seat being vacated by Buckingham. The endorsements come before new districts are finalized, suggesting the final map will closely resemble the version introduced by Sen. Joan Huffman (R-Houston) earlier this week.

U.S. Rep. Roger Williams (R-Austin) endorsed former Austin council member Ellen Troxclair (R), who is campaigning for open SD24 as the introduced Senate map places her in adjacent SD25, which is held by Sen. Donna Campbell (R-New Braunfels).

HD13 open: Brenham political consultant Joe J. Williams established a campaign committee for a potential run for the seat being vacated by Rep. Ben Leman (R-Iola) as a Republican.

HD52: Associated Republicans of Texas PAC endorsed Nelson Jarrin over Caroline Harris in the race to challenge Rep. James Talarico (D-Round Rock).

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