Congressional Fundraising and Endorsement News for January 31
Jeff Blaylock
Today (Monday) was the deadline for federal candidates and officeholders to file their year-end campaign finance reports. Our Crib Sheets have been updated with the latest numbers, at least in key primary races, and we will continue to do so as reports become available. We cover some highlights below.
Today was also the deadline for state candidates facing primary opposition to file their 30-day-out campaign finance reports. We expect these reports to become available online tomorrow (Tuesday).
Year-end Report Highlights
CD1 open (Safe R): Nathaniel Moran raised $343K and has $319K on hand, about 8 times the amounts for his nearest rival, John Porro ($40K raised, $39K on hand).
CD2 (Safe R): U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Houston) raised $2.1M and spent $1.7M for the quarter, bringing his totals to date to $9.9M in contributions and $7.1M in expenditures. He has $4.5M on hand.
CD3 (Likely R): U.S. Rep. Van Taylor (R-Plano) out-raised Keith Self, $418K to $166K, and the incumbent has a $1.2M to $107K cash on hand advantage.
CD8 open (Safe R): Morgan Luttrell raised $1.2M and has $1.6M on hand. Jonathan Hullihan raised $56K and has $87K on hand. Reports for seven Republican candidates, including Christian Collins, were not yet available.
CD15 open (Toss Up): Monica De la Cruz-Hernandez (R) led all candidates whose reports were available with $559K in contributions and $355K in expenditures. She has a $626K to $388K cash on hand advantage over primary rival Mauro Garza, whose outstanding loan balance is $663K. Ruben Ramirez led the Democrats whose reports were available with $93K in contributions but trails Eliza Alvarado in cash on hand, $104K to $74K.
CD26 (Likely R): U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess raised $152K and has $291K on hand. Primary challenger Raven Harrison reported no contributions but spent $83K and has $127K on hand thanks to a $210K loan.
CD28 (Lean D): U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Laredo) out-raised Jessica Cisneros, $688K to $360K, and outspent her, $561K to $178K. He has a $2.3M to $494K advantage in cash on hand. The entire period covered by these reports preceded the recent FBI raid on Cuellar’s home and campaign office.
CD30 open (Safe D): Abel Mulugheta led the field with $253K in contributions followed by Jane Hope Hamilton ($111K), Rep. Jasmine Crockett ($101K) and Jessica Mason ($65K). Mulugheta leads in cash on hand with $187K followed by Crockett ($80K), Hamilton ($71K) and Mason ($39K).
CD35 open (Safe D): Greg Casar out-raised Rep. Eddie Rodriguez, $468K to $251K, and Casar has a $356K to $220K advantage in cash on hand. Rebecca Viagran raised $47K and has $45K on hand.
CD38 open (Safe R): Wesley Hunt raised $1M and had nearly $1.6M on hand. No other Republican whose report was available raised more than $10K. Mark Ramsey ($104K) has the next highest cash on hand totals thanks to a $101K loan balance.
SEN (Not on Ballot): U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R) raised $2.2M and has just over $5M on hand. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R) raised $270K and has $1.2M on hand.
Endorsements
AGRIC (Likely R): The Houston Chronicle endorsed Susan Hays for the Democratic nomination.
CD21 (Safe R): The San Antonio Express-News endorsed U.S. Rep. Chip Roy (R-Austin) and Ricardo Villarreal (D) for their respective party’s nominations.
CD22 (Likely R): The Houston Chronicle endorsed U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Richmond).
CD23 (Lean R): The San Antonio Express-News endorsed U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-San Antonio) and John Lira (D) for their respective party’s nominations.
CD24 (Likely R): The Dallas Morning News endorsed U.S. Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-Irving) and Derrik Gay (R) for their respective party’s nominations.
CD35 (Safe D): The San Antonio Express-News and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) endorsed Austin council member Greg Casar (D).