Congressional candidates on the general election ballot raised $19M and spent nearly $16M during the third quarter, according to October quarterly reports that were due today (Sat.). The total represents a more than $24M drop from the same period in 2020, even after excluding the U.S. Senate race (another $21M) and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz ($2.3M).

The biggest difference between 2020 and 2022 is the relative lack of competitive seats. Fourteen candidates raised at least $1M during the third quarter of 2020, while just six candidates topped the million mark this quarter:

• CD28 (Lean D) – Challenger Cassy Garcia (R) raised $1.66M
• CD34 (Lean D) – U.S. Rep. Mayra Flores (R-Los Indios) raised $1.58M
• CD38 (Safe R) – Wesley Hunt (R) raised $1.12M
• CD8 (Safe R) – Morgan Luttrell (R) raised $1.05M
• CD6 (Safe R) – U.S. Rep. Jake Ellzey (R-Waxahachie), who is unopposed, raised $1.04M; and
• CD15 (Lean R) – Monica De la Cruz-Hernandez (R) raised $1.01M.

Cruz raised $1.46M and would have landed third on this list were he on the ballot this year. He is up for re-election in 2024.More than a third of all dollars raised during the quarter went to candidates running for three South Texas seats: CD15, CD28 and CD34.

‍CD15 open (Lean R): Monica De la Cruz-Hernandez (R) out-raised Michelle Vallejo, $1.0M to $857K, and outspent her, $787K to $715K. De la Cruz-Hernandez has a $772K to $301K advantage in cash on hand.

‍CD28 (Lean D): Republican challenger Cassy Garcia out-raised U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Laredo), $1.66M to $983K, and outspent him, $1.5M to $382K. The incumbent has an $836K to $384K advantage in cash on hand.

‍CD34 (Lean D): U.S. Rep. Mayra Flores (R-Los Indios) out-raised U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-McAllen), $1.6M to $497K, but was outspent $1.1M to $893K. Gonzalez has a narrow edge in cash on hand, $820K to $799K.

‍CD15 open (Lean R): Monica De la Cruz-Hernandez (R) out-raised Michelle Vallejo, $1.0M to $857K, and outspent her, $787K to $715K. De la Cruz-Hernandez has a $772K to $301K advantage in cash on hand.

‍CD23 (Likely R): U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-San Antonio) out-raised John Lira (D), $514K to $115K, and outspent him, $612K to $139K. Gonzales has a nearly $1.2M advantage in cash on hand.

‍CD28 (Lean D): Republican challenger Cassy Garcia out-raised U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Laredo), $1.66M to $983K, and outspent him, $1.5M to $382K. The incumbent has an $836K to $384K advantage in cash on hand.

‍CD34 (Lean D): U.S. Rep. Mayra Flores (R-Los Indios) out-raised U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-McAllen), $1.6M to $497K, but was outspent $1.1M to $893K. Gonzalez has a narrow edge in cash on hand, $820K to $799K.

‍©2022 Texas Election Source LLC