Jolanda Jones (D) out-raised Danielle Keys Bess (D), $41K to $36K, and outspent her, $53K to $22K, according to the HD147 (Safe D) special election candidates’ 8-day-out campaign finance reports. Jones has a $63K to $14K advantage in cash on hand going into this special election and the primary runoff election in three weeks. Over the election cycle, Jones has out-raised Bess, $242K to $159K, and outspent her, $191K to $76K.

The reports disclose contributions received and expenditures made between March 29 and April 27.

Jones’s largest contributors for the period were Los Altos (Calif.) physician Karla Jurvetson ($5K), Houston business owner Steven Rogers ($5K), Blackridge ($2.5K) and Houston developer Al Kashani ($2.5K).

Bess’s largest contributors for the period were Houston broker Gerald Womack ($8K), Houston nonprofit executive Nancy Kinder ($5K), Houston builder Mayberry Sharone ($5K), Houston construction executive Gregg Reyes ($3K), Alpha Omega ($2K), Houston Apartment Assoc. PAC ($2K) and Houston Police Officers’ Union ($2K).

Jones finished first in the Democratic primary with 41% of the vote, followed by Bess with 20% and Reagan Flowers with 18%. The winner of the special election will fill the unexpired term of former Rep. Garnet Coleman (D-Houston) and should have the advantage in the May 24 runoff to win a full term in November.

Early voting continues for the May 7 general, special and constitutional amendment elections. Through yesterday (Saturday), turnout statewide for the constitutional amendment election eclipsed 3% of registered voters.

CD28 (Lean D): EMILY’ List, through its Women Vote Project, released a new ad, “Decision Time,” supporting challenger Jessica Cisneros and contrasting her position of reproductive rights with U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Laredo).

The Democracy Project, a Super PAC connected to the American Israel PAC, spent $333K in advertising and direct mail opposing Cisneros.

Republican Party: State vice chair Cat Parks announced she would not seek re-election.

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