Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) said he “look[s] forward to running for re-election” in 2022 and announced he raised nearly $5M during the second half of 2020. Patrick ended the year with $19.4M on hand, the highest COH figure ever reported for a lieutenant governor. The previous record, also held by Patrick, was $18.1M as of December 31, 2017.

Patrick has raised $43.1M since he was elected to the office in 2014. His total reported contributions, including for his senate campaigns, have eclipsed $63M, which would put him ahead of former Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst’s (R) lifetime contribution total if Dewhurst’s roughly $15M in contributions to himself were excluded.

Campaign Finance: January semiannual campaign finance reports are due tomorrow (Friday) for all state officeholders and candidates – including statewide, legislative and judicial – with active campaign accounts and for local candidates where required.

For candidates who were opposed in the general election, the reports will disclose contributions received and expenditures made between October 25 and December 31. For unopposed candidates and those who were not for election in 2020, the reports cover the period between July 1 and December 31.

Candidates in the HD68 special election are also required to submit their 8-day-out reports, which will cover the period from January 1 through yesterday (Wednesday). Contributions received between then and January 23 must be disclosed in daily reports as needed.

These reports are expected to become available online on Saturday, at which point we will begin updating our Special Election Crib Sheet for the HD68 race and our 2020 Crib Sheets for the final time this election cycle save for federal candidates, for whom reports are not due until January 31.

HD68 special: Early voting continues for the January 23 special election. Through yesterday (Wednesday), the third day of the early voting period, a total of 1,135 people have voted in person or by mail. Cooke (316 voters), Jack (209), Young (173) and Montague (169) Cos. represent three quarters of all votes cast so far. Jason Brinkley (R) is from Cooke Co. John Berry (R) and David Spiller (R) are from Jack Co. Craig Carter (R) is from Montague Co. Just 19 people have voted in Childress Co., home of David Gregory (D).

Former Gov. Rick Perry (R) endorsed David Spiller in the special election to fill the unexpired House term of Sen. Drew Springer (R-Muenster).

Fort Worth: Council members Brian Byrd and Ann Zadeh filed for mayor, as did Tarrant Co. Democratic chair and 2019 second-place finisher Deborah Peoples, 2019 write-in candidate Mike Haynes and Army veteran Chris Rector, who appears to be seeking public office for the first time. Nonprofit executive Mattie Parker is considering the race. Mayor Betsy Price is not seeking re-election.

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