GOP Funding Surges In Texas Senate And House Races As Election Day Approaches

With one week to go until election day, Texas is seeing a final push of funds and fierce competition between parties, however, the eight day report shows GOP funds overshadowing Democrats.

In the state’s only swing Senate race, Democratic incumbent Sen. Morgan LaMantia is facing a well founded Republican opponent. According to The Quorum Report, Republican Adan Hinojosa raised $1.3 million and spent $1.6 million. This is a huge influx compared to the $250,000 LaMantia managed to raise.

Because of this, LaMantia recently challenged Hinojosa to a TV debate, saying that “he just hides behind slick ads paid for by megadonors in Houston and Dallas.” In 2022, the incumbent senator managed to defeat Hinojosa by just 659 votes (or about 0.4 percentage points), so Republicans have poured millions into the race, hoping to change things this election. 

While a Republican victory will not change a lot of things in the Senate, it would be a huge victory for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in his quest to strengthen his control over the upper chamber.

In the Texas House, the influx of GOP funds have overshadowed democratic efforts, especially in races they hope to flip. Republican incumbents such as Rep. Janie Lopez raising $1.6 million and benefiting from in-kind contributions. Democrat Jonathan Gracia, Lopez’s challenger, raised a modest $181,000 by comparison.

Even Democratic incumbents have seen these few days that their challengers are outrasing them. Rep. Eddie Morales, Jr, for example, is facing Del Rio Mayor Robert Garza, who has received Gov. Greg Abbott’s money.

Reports show Morales raised $122,000, spent $153,000 and has $141,000 cash on hand, while accumulating $215,000 in loans. On the other hand, Garza raised $481,000, spent $48,000 and has $35,000 cash on hand. He has a $1,000 loan. He received Abbott’s help in a $139,000 donation.

In other raises, Republican incumbent Rep. Angie Chen Button raised $1.6 million, a significantly larger amount than her challenger Averie Bishop, who raised $417,000. 

However, Democrats are increasingly hopeful with candidate Kristian Carranza, who is challenging Rep. John Lujan. Carranza raised $1.6 million compared to Lujan’s $1.5 million. However, Lujan currently has more money in hand than Carranza, with $247,000 and $191,000 respectively.

This electoral cycle Republicans have received an unusual influx of money from conservative mega donors Tim Dunn and the Wilks brothers, who have started targeting Democratic candidates. In addition, Abbott, who historically has been conservative with his campaign budget has jumped in to support his candidates, hoping to pass his school vouchers plan next legislative session.