SEN: U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-El Paso) announced his campaign raised more than $10.4M during the second quarter. He received donations “from 215,714 individual contributors, most of them from Texas, giving $15, $25, $50 bucks at a time,” O’Rourke said in a Facebook video. “The average contribution has been $33 over these last three months.”
O’Rourke raised nearly as much in the last three months as the past four Democratic nominees for U.S. Senate raised during their entire campaigns combined:
- $4.5M – David Alameel in 2014, of which $4.4M came from the candidate himself
- $678K – former Rep. Paul Sadler (D-Henderson) in 2012
- $4.1M – former Rep. Rick Noriega (D-Houston) in 2008; and
- $1.5M – Barbara Ann Radnofsky in 2006.
For the election cycle, O’Rourke has now raised around $19.2M, which likely puts him behind only Gov. Greg Abbott (R) in terms of total contributions so far this election cycle. Abbott raised a total of $21.7M as of late February and has undoubtedly raised significant sums since.
O’Rourke is expected to report having more than $14M on hand. The campaign of U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R) has not publicly reported any quarterly fundraising information. Campaign finance reports are due July 15. However, because U.S. Senate candidates file paper copies with the Secretary of the Senate, they are not typically available online for at least a week, often longer. All other federal candidates file with the Federal Election Commission, and most do so electronically.
GOV: The campaigns of Gov. Greg Abbott (R) and former Dallas Co. Sheriff Lupe Valdez (D) have agreed to Nexstar Media Group’s invitation to an hourlong debate in Austin on September 28, a Friday.
Thanks @GregAbbott_TX for accepting a debate! We’re in and always happy to discuss our vision for a Texas that works for all. We haven’t agreed to the terms yet – but seriously, during Friday Night Lights? ???? Texans deserve better. Call me, maybe?
— Lupe Valdez (@LupeValdez) July 11, 2018
Nexstar owns KXAN-TV in Austin and various stations in about a dozen markets across the state.
Meanwhile, the Valdez campaign confirmed that Tyler Tucker will succeed Bill Romjue as campaign manager. Tucker previously worked for the campaign of Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) and Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. Romjue will remain with the campaign as a senior advisor.
SD19 special: The campaign of Rep. Roland Gutierrez (D-San Antonio) announced the endorsements of the San Antonio Professional Firefighters Local 624, San Antonio Police Officers Assoc., Deputy Sheriff’s Assoc. of Bexar Co., and San Antonio Fire and Police Pensioners’ Assoc.
Harris Co.: County Judge Ed Emmett’s (R) campaign announced he raised more than $600K during the first half of 2018, and he has $945K on hand for his re-election bid. As of this filing period in 2014, Emmett raised $313K and had $532K on hand.
Nueces Co.: Longtime Justice of the Peace Bobby Balderas passed away from liver cancer. The commissioners court will appoint a successor to fill the final few months of his term. First elected in 2002, Balderas withdrew from this year’s Democratic primary. Lucy Rubio, a Corpus Christi council member and former Corpus Christi ISD board member, won the primary over his son Randy Balderas. As far as we can tell, Rubio is unopposed in the general election.
Austin: Council member Ellen Troxclair announced she would not seek re-election. Strategic consultant Richard DePalma, marketing consultant Paige Ellis and Save Our Springs Alliance attorney Bobby Levinski have previously announced plans to seek the seat. The filing period begins July 23.
©2018 Texas Election Source LLC
