HD-28 Texas candidates release campaign finance reports

Campaign finance reports were released by candidates running in the HD-28 Texas special election. These will be the last campaign finance reports released before election day on Nov. 5.

The seven candidates in the special election are running to replace Rep. John Zerwas (R-Richmond) who left public office to work for the University of Texas.

The sole Democrat in the race, educator Eliz Markowitz, had the biggest fundraising haul in the period between Sep. 27, 2019 – Oct. 26, 2019. She raised $294,000.

Markowitz’s previous fundraising report relied on small donors. The majority — 65 percent — of her contributions this month came from large groups.

Markowitz reported donations from multiple Democratic-aligned statewide and federal PACs, labor unions and teacher groups. 

Markowitz’s individual donors gave at an average of $39.75 per contribution. She reported nearly 2,600 individual donors.

While Markowitz raised the most in this one month period, Republican real estate mogul Gary Gates spent the most, with $355,000 in expenses. He also paid off a $200,000 loan from his prior campaigns.

Continuing the trend of self-funding his campaign, Gates loaned himself $445,000 and raised only $500 from his pastor.

Republican Tricia Krenek spent $205,000 in the one-month period and raised $55,000. Krenek also loaned herself $60,000.

Krenek’s fundraising report total included a $25,000 check from the Associated Republicans of Texas — a group that endorsed Krenek’s campaign. She also received $10,000 from Texans for Lawsuit Reform (TLR).

Although TLR did not endorse Krenek, she was one of their “preferred” candidates. TLR’s preferred candidate list also includes another candidate in HD-28 Texas, Anna Allred.

Additionally, Allred reported a $15,000 donation to TLR. When the 30-day reports came out on Oct. 8, Allred had the largest fundraising total.

The most recent report shows that Allred raised $66,000 and spent $104,000.This included a $20,000 check from the federal anesthesiologists PAC.

Krenek, Gates, and Markowitz collectively spent over $240,000 on TV ads. This adds to the over $70,000 spent in TV ads supporting Markowitz by Democratic Super PAC Forward Majority, per their latest filing.

Former DEA agent Gary Hale reportedly raised $344. Hale also reported $12,000 in spending.

Former House District 12 candidate Sarah Laningham raised $100 and spent $2,000. Laningham’s total hasn’t changed since the 30-day report was published.  

As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, Clinton Purnell had yet to file his campaign finance report. This article will be updated if and when Purnell releases his report.

Early voting is underway and will end on Friday, Nov. 1.