Frontrunners cemented their statuses through superior campaign finance results, according to the candidates’ 8-day-out reports. Seven candidates raised at least $150K.
- $464K – Pete Flores (R) in SD24 open (Likely R)
- $225K – Sen. Donna Campbell (R-New Braunfels) in SD25 (Likely R)
- $224K – Kevin Sparks (R) in SD31 open (Safe R)
- $219K – Rep. Tan Parker (R-Flower Mound) in SD12 open (Likely R)
- $161K – Sen. Angela Paxton (R-McKinney) in SD8 (Likely R)
- $157K – Tim Reid (R), competitive in SD31, and
- $151K – Rep. Phil King (R-Weatherford) in SD10 (Likely R).
A couple of other frontrunners spent their way into a clear lead. Rep. Mayes Middleton (R-Wallisville) spent $1.3M, easily $1M more than his nearest rival, in SD11 open (Likely R). Morgan LaMantia (D) spent nearly $1.1M, nearly $1M more than her nearest rival, in SD27 open (Lean D).
From a campaign finance perspective, the only truly competitive race is SD31 open, where Sparks outspent Reid, $449K to $152K, and Stormy Bradley spent $108K during the period. In SD24 open, Raul Reyes Jr. spent $153K, just over a third of the amount spent by Flores. In SD27 open, Rep. Alex Dominguez (D-Brownsville) spent just under $100K, less than a tenth of the amount spent by LaMantia.
Collectively, Senate candidates facing primary opposition raised $2.2M and spent $6.0M during the roughly monthlong period covered by these reports.
©2022 Texas Election Source LLC
