Updated: We inadvertently overlooked Todd Litton’s report, which also reported more than $100K on hand. He’s been added below.
Candidates seeking to oust U.S. Rep. John Culberson (R-Houston) collectively raised more than $1.27M during the second quarter of 2017. Two potential Democratic opponents, Houston nonprofit director Alex Triantaphyllis ($451K) and Houston attorney Lizzie Pannill Fletcher ($366K) out-raised Culberson ($336K) during the quarter.
Alex Triantaphyllis
Lizzie Pannill Fletcher
Five candidates in the CD7 race are among the 10 nine challengers across the state reporting at least $100K on hand. Four of those five – Triantaphyllis ($402K), Fletcher ($343K), Houston journalist and app creator Laura Moser ($192K) and Houston physician Jason Westin ($120K) – are vying for the Democratic nomination. The fifth, Houston healthcare executive David Balat ($102K), is a primary challenger. Culberson reported having $361K on hand.
A pair of Democrats seeking to oust U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Dallas) reported having at least $100K on hand: Dallas businessman and 2016 Hillary Clinton campaign strategist Ed Meier ($298K) and Dallas civil rights attorney and former professional football player Colin Allred ($149K). Sessions reported having $903K on hand after raising $398K for the quarter. Meier and Allred raised $344K and $181K, respectively.
Austin tech entrepreneur Joseph Kopser reported having $136K on hand to lead the crowded field of Democratic candidates seeking to oust U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith (R-San Antonio). Kopser reported raising $204K, slightly out-raising Smith and placing him well ahead of any of his Democratic rivals. Smith has $815K on hand after raising $198K.
In CD2, Democratic challenger Todd Litton reported having $132K on hand as of June 30 after out-raising U.S. Rep. Ted Poe (R-Humble), $139K to $79K, for the quarter. Poe has a nearly $2M advantage in cash on hand.
We previously reported that the Beto O’Rourke campaign out-raised U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R) during the quarter, $2.1M to $1.6M. Cruz has $5.7M on hand, more than triple O’Rourke’s $1.8M. Neither of their reports was available electronically.
Dori
Fenenbock
Dori Fenenbock, an El Paso attorney and El Paso ISD board president, reported having $329K on hand, the most of any open-seat candidate to file so far.
The 35 congressional incumbents seeking re-election collectively reported having $34M on hand. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn’s (R) campaign has not, as far as we know, announced any totals (Cruz and Cornyn’s reports are typically not available online for up to a week after the deadline.) We expect Gov. Greg Abbott’s forthcoming cash-on-hand figure to exceed the total amount on hand for the entire congressional delegation, again.
Federal officeholders and candidates who meet the contribution or expenditure threshold were required to file July quarterly campaign finance reports on Saturday. Meanwhile, state and legislative candidates’ July semiannual reports are due tomorrow. We will report highlights during the day on Tuesday. We are also in the process of implementing our new, interactive Crib Sheets.
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