Primary Election Day is Tuesday. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time across the state. Counties begin releasing early voting results shortly after polls close. We will have live returns and analysis beginning at 7 p.m. CST at https://txelects.wpengine.com/live.

Campaign Finance: Candidates with primary opponents who accept contributions between February 25 and March 5 must file daily pre-election reports by the first business day after the contributions are accepted. We looked again at the candidates in our Hot Races and found these notable contributions:

  • AGRIC: Challenger Trey Blocker received $10K from Ryan Texas PAC.
  • SD2: Challenger Cindy Burkett (R-Sunnyvale) received $21K from nine sources, none over $5K.
  • SD30: Challenger Pat Fallon (R-Frisco) received $11K from five sources, none over $5K.
  • SD31: Sen. Kel Seliger (R-Amarillo) received $10K each from San Antonio grocer Charles Butt, Dallas businessman Harlan Crow and Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC, plus $32K from 14 sources.
  • HD2: Rep. Dan Flynn (R-Van) received $21K from seven sources, none over $5K.
  • HD23: Rep. Wayne Faircloth (R-Dickinson) received $20K from 17 sources, none over $5K. Several were small donations from district residents.
  • HD47: Rep. Paul Workman (R-Austin) received $23K in kind from Associated Republicans of Texas for campaign advertising and $13K from eight sources.
  • HD55: Rep. Hugh Shine (R-Temple) received $41K from 13 sources, none over $5K.
  • HD59: Rep. J.D. Sheffield (R-Gatesville) received $14K each from Texas Medical Assoc. TEXPAC (incl. $4K in kind) and THCA PAC, $10K from T.O.M.A. PAC and $23K from 13 other sources.
  • HD60: Rep. Mike Lang (R-Granbury) received $8K from three sources. Challenger Jim Largent received just under $5K total from AFSCME Texas Correctional Officers PAC and Texas State Teachers Assoc. PAC.
  • HD73: Rep. Kyle Biedermann (R-Fredericksburg) received $26K from Empower Texans PAC (including $16K in kind for direct mail) and $10K from two other sources.
  • HD75: Rep. Mary González (D-Clint) received $17K from 18 sources. Challenger MarySue Femath received $10K from Fort Worth-based Aggregate Capital and Development Co. and $8K from three other sources.
  • HD88: Rep. Ken King (R-Canadian) received $16K in kind from Associated Republicans of Texas for direct mail and $32K from nine sources. Challenger Jason Huddleston amended his 8-day-out report to include a $35K in-kind contribution from New Leadership PAC and other smaller in-kind contributions that were omitted on his original report. We have updated our Crib Sheet accordingly.
  • HD99: Rep. Charlie Geren (R-Fort Worth) received $10K from AFSCME Texas Correctional Officers PAC and $29K from 12 other sources. Geren has reported $162K in contributions on daily reports so far. Challenger Bo French received $13K from New Leadership PAC and a small in-kind contribution from Texas Right to Life PAC.
  • HD106 open: Clint Bedsole received $23K in kind from Associated Republicans of Texas for direct mail and $4K from two sources.
  • HD114: Rep. Jason Villalba (R-Dallas) received $10K in kind from Associated Republicans of Texas PAC and $16K from five sources.
  • HD134: Challenger Susanna Dokupil received $16K from four sources.

These contributions are in addition to the ones we highlighted last week. As with then, most of the contributions are going to incumbent Republican legislators who are facing candidates backed by movement conservative groups. Surprisingly, those groups are largely absent from these reports. So far this election cycle, Empower Texans and Texas Right to Life PACs have collectively spent $5.1M.

McAllen: Attorney Javier Villalobos won Saturday’s special runoff election over tax consultant Timothy Watkins, 56%-44%, to claim the unexpired council term of Richard Cortez, who resigned to run for Hidalgo County Judge.

©2018 Texas Election Source LLC