Nearly half of Democratic gubernatorial challenger Beto O’Rourke’s record-setting contribution total came from donors outside Texas, according to our cursory analysis of his more than 100,000-page July semiannual report. Texans supplied 52.7% of his contribution total from February 20 through June 30. Donors from California (11.4%), New York (8.6%), Colorado (3.0%) and Massachusetts (2.5%) led out-of-state contributions, which totaled just over $13M.
Six out of every seven dollars contributed to Gov. Greg Abbott’s (R) campaign during the period came from Texans. He raised $21.3M from Texas donors, representing 86% of his overall total. California (3.4%), Florida (1.5%) and Oklahoma (1.3%) residents led his out-of-state contributions. Abbott out-raised O’Rourke, $21.3M to $14.5M, among Texans.
O’Rourke’s report itemized more than 508K contributions, about 200K more than Abbott’s report. The massive report was not available online until today (Tues.) as the campaign worked with the Texas Ethics Commission to get the report on its website. According to J.R. Johnson, the agency’s general counsel, the report was submitted on time by the campaign but “the size of the report is pushing the limits of our technology.”
O’Rourke’s campaign previously reported his contribution total, but it had not indicated how much cash the campaign had on hand. Abbott still maintains a nearly 2-to-1 advantage, $46.0M to $23.9M, and that’s afterspending more than $20M before the end of the quarter to reserve ad spots for the fall. Abbott outspent O’Rourke, $30M to $9.5M, for the period.
The $23.9M cash-on-hand figure reported by O’Rourke is by far the biggest ever reported by a Democratic candidate for state office, shattering the previous record of $9.0M reported by 2010 gubernatorial nominee Bill White in his July semiannual report. Abbott’s $46.0M cash on hand total is his smallest since the end of 2020 but still ranks as the 5th highest cash on hand figure ever reported by a candidate for state office.
Compared to the same period four years ago, Abbott raised $14.0M more and has $16.3M more on hand. Abbott would go on to raise an additional $11.7M through the end of 2018.
AG (Lean R): Atty. Gen. Ken Paxton’s (R) campaign filed an amended report that reduced his contribution total to $341K from $3.8M, and all contributions were itemized. As such, Paxton was out-raised by Democratic challenger Rochelle Garza, $518K to $341K, for the period. Paxton maintains a better than $3M advantage in cash on hand. We have updated our previous report on these fundraising results and our Crib Sheets.
Galveston Co.: Sen. Larry Taylor (R-Friendswood) vying to become the replacement nominee for county commissioner. Former Comm. Ken Clark (R) passed away after winning the nomination for another term. Precinct chairs will interview candidates and decide on a new nominee. Taylor faces interim Co. Comm. Robin Armstrong (R) and at least three other candidates. Taylor did not seek re-election this year. Armstrong unsuccessfully ran to replace him, finishing a distant second in the primary to Rep. Mayes Middleton (R-Wallisville).
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