Update (2/3): We erroneously used Jeff Judson’s January semiannual, rather than his 30-day-out report, in our original analysis. We’ve edited our original story by striking out inaccurate material and underlining new material. We apologize for the error.
Candidates with primary opponents were required to file 30-day-out campaign finance reports yesterday. These reports disclose contributions received and expenditures made between January 1 and January 21. Notable highlights among House candidates include:
- Primary candidates raised $2.7 million and spent $3.1 million during the first 21 days of 2016.
- Primary candidates not named Straus have a combined $10.2 million cash on hand. Adding in the Speaker’s cash on hand brings the House total to $18.8 million.
Jeff Judson, who is challenging Speaker Joe Straus in HD121, received more in contributions ($189K) than any other House candidate, out-raising even the Speaker ($157K).Judson raised $43K, considerably less than Speaker Straus ($157K) but still among the 20 highest contribution totals for the period.- 14 challengers raised more money than the incumbents they’re facing. Large contributions from grassroots conservative groups and their donors provided more than half of all contributions for most of these challengers.
- 19 incumbents and 2 open-seat candidates reported having at least $100K more on hand than their nearest rival.
- Four incumbents – Reps. Alma Allen (D-Houston), Ron Reynolds (D-Missouri City), Debbie Riddle (R-Spring) and Molly White (R-Belton) – reported less cash on hand than a primary challenger.
- As one would expect, open-seat races lag in resources. Just 4 of 53 open-seat candidates raised at least $25K for the period, and 40 of the 53 candidates reported having less than $50K on hand.
We’ll take a deeper dive into individual races’ numbers over the coming weeks. In the meantime, our Crib Sheets are fully updated with the new numbers. Also, below are some numerical data points that show the relative competitiveness of the races.
Almost 20 primary candidates reported at least $150K on hand.
Top 20 Cash-on-hand Balances of Primary Candidates
- $8,559,698 – Speaker Joe Straus (HD121)
- $695,761 – Rep. Charlie Geren (HD99)
- $687,438 – Rep. Byron Cook (HD8)
- $469,159 – Rep. Angie Chen Button (HD112)
- $430,187 – Rep. Doug Miller (HD73)
- $394,538 – Rep. Jodie Laubenberg (HD89)
- $382,797 – Rep. Wayne Smith (HD128)
- $307,882 – Rep. Jonathan Stickland (HD92)
- $264,710 – Rep. Ron Simmons (HD65)
- $256,584 – Rep. John Frullo (HD84)
- $226,436 – Justin Holland (HD33 open)
- $203,278 – Lorne Leichty (HD33 open)
- $203,033 – Rep. Brooks Landgraf (HD81)
- $197,890 – Thomas McNutt (HD8)
- $188,484 – Rep. Sergio Munoz Jr. (HD36)
- $178,048 – Bo French (HD99)
- $174,393 – Mike Lang (HD60 open)
- $170,174 – Rep. John Raney (HD14)
- $158,807 – Rep. Sarah Davis (HD134)
- $148,807 – Rep. Marcia Farney (HD20)
Italics indicate a challenger.
For the most part, incumbents maintain significant cash-on-hand advantages over their primary challengers. However, four challengers reported more cash on hand than the incumbents.
Challengers with More Cash on Hand Than Incumbents
- HD27 – Angelique Bartholomew $25K, Rep. Ron Reynolds $1K
- HD55 – Hugh Shine $112K, Rep. Molly White $95K
- HD131 – John Shike $32K, Rep. Alma Allen $30K
- HD150 – Valoree Swanson $51K, Rep. Debbie Riddle $36K
More than a dozen challengers reported having at least $35K on hand. Four reported having at least $100K on hand.
Challengers with at Least $35K on Hand
- HD8 – Thomas McNutt $198K (Rep. Bryon Cook $687K)
- HD99 – Bo French $178K (Rep. Charlie Geren $696K)
- HD55 – Hugh Shine $112K (Rep. Molly White $95K)
- HD14 – Jess Fields $109K (Rep. John Raney $170K)
- HD134 – David Palmer $73K (Rep. Sarah Davis $159K)
- HD115 – Bennett Ratliff $70K (Rep. Matt Rinaldi $119K)
- HD84 – Jim Landtroop $60K (Rep. John Frullo $257K)
- HD150 – Valoree Swanson $51K (Rep. Debbie Riddle $36K)
- HD2 – Bryan Slaton $47K (Rep. Dan Flynn $108K)
- HD114 – Dan Morenoff $41K (Rep. Jason Villalba $70K)
- HD81 – Josh Crawford $40K (Rep. Brooks Landgraf $203K)
- HD121 – Jeff Judson $39K (Speaker Joe Straus $8.6M)
- HD128 – Briscoe Cain $37K (Rep. Wayne Smith $383K)
- HD4 – Lance Gooden $36K (Rep. Stuart Spitzer $116K)
Often buoyed by big contributions from social conservative or other interest groups, 14 challengers raised more money than the incumbents they’re facing.
Challengers Who Out-raised Incumbents
- HD2 – Bryan Slaton $42K, Rep. Dan Flynn $10K
- HD4 – Lance Gooden $29K, Rep. Stuart Spitzer $11K
- HD8 – Thomas McNutt $78K, Rep. Byron Cook $37K
- HD14 – Jess Fields $30K, Rep. John Raney $9K
- HD17 – Brent Golemon $19K, Rep. John Cyrier $4K
- HD20 – Terry Wilson $10K, Rep. Marcia Farney $1.5K
- HD27 – Angelique Bartholomew $26K, Rep. Ron Reynolds $7K
- HD36 – Abraham Padron $30K, Rep. Sergio Munoz Jr. $24K
- HD59 – Brent Graves $27K, Rep. J.D. Sheffield $14K
- HD75 – Chente Quintanilla $60K, Rep. Mary Gonzalez $24K
- HD94 – Andrew Piel $16K, Rep. Tony Tinderholt $14K
HD121 – Jeff Judson $189K, Speaker Joe Straus $157K- HD128 – Briscoe Cain $41K, Rep. Wayne Smith $24K
- HD150 – Valoree Swanson $26K, Rep. Debbie Riddle $14K
Twenty incumbents, challengers and open seat candidates raised at least $40K during the first 21 days of the year.
Candidates with at Least $40K in Contribution for the Period
$189,197 – Jeff Judson (HD121)- $157,786 – Mike Lang (HD60 open)
- $156,875 – Speaker Joe Straus (HD121)
- $140,373 – Rep. Jonathan Stickland (HD92)
- $139,700 – Rep. Charlie Geren (HD99)
- $89,498 – Rep. Matt Rinaldi (HD115)
- $82,325 – Bo French (HD99)
- $78,280 – Thomas McNutt (HD8)
- $63,120 – Bennett Ratliff (HD115)
- $60,590 – Rep. Travis Clardy (HD11)
- $59,625 – Chente Quintanilla (HD75)
- $46,305 – Gina Hinojosa (HD49 open)
- $46,091 – Kevin Downing (HD60 open)
- $45,343 – Rep. Molly White (HD55)
- $44,492 – Rep. Jason Villalba (HD114)
- $43,360 – Rep. Ron Simmons (HD65)
- $42,686 – Jeff Judson (HD121)
- $41,568 – Bryan Slaton (HD2)
- $41,150 – Rep. Paul Workman (HD47)
- $40,813 – Briscoe Cain (HD128)
- $40,780 – Rep. Jodie Laubenberg (HD89)
Italics indicate a challenger.
Fifteen candidates spent at least $50K during the first 21 days of the year.
Candidates with at Least $50K in Expenditures for the Period
- $426,406 – Speaker Joe Straus (HD121)
- $229,992 – Rep. Charlie Geren (HD99)
$130,537 – Jeff Judson (HD121)- $91,382 – Rep. Doug Miller (HD73)
- $89,392 – Rep. Marcia Farney (HD20)
- $84,876 – Tom Oliverson (HD130 open)
- $62,411 – Jeff Judson (HD121)
- $60,648 – Rep. Debbie Riddle (HD150)
- $60,583 – Rep. Dan Huberty (HD127)
- $60,343 – Rep. John Cyrier (HD17)
- $58,753 – Rep. Jason Villalba (HD114)
- $57,003 – Abraham Padron (HD36)
- $53,303 – Rep. Kyle Kacal (HD12)
- $52,839 – Scott Fisher (HD92)
- $52,836 – Rep. Cindy Burkett (HD113)
- $51,787 – Lorne Leichty (HD33 open)
Italics indicate a challenger.
A dozen candidates reported at least $75K in loan balances.
Candidates Reporting at Least $75K in Loan Principal
- $327,000 – Rep. Ron Simmons (HD65)
- $290,550 – Rep. Sergio Munoz Jr. (HD36)
- $263,422 – Lorne Leichty (HD33 open)
- $158,332 – John Keating (HD33 open)
- $137,000 – Rep. Stuart Spitzer (HD4)
- $100,000 – Tom Oliverson (HD130)
- $100,000 – David Palmer (HD134)
- $100,000 – Blake Rocap (HD49 open)
- $92,300 – Abraham Padron (HD36)
- $80,000 – Bennett Ratliff (HD115)
- $75,000 – Gina Hinojosa (HD49 open)
- $75,000 – Jay Misenheimer (HD5 open)
Italics indicate a challenger.
Keep in mind that campaign finance advantages do not always translate into primary victories. In 2014, two dozen primary candidates defeated, or advanced to a runoff over, better funded candidates.
