Texas Dems Raise More or Enough
to Compete in Five Top House Races

Capitol Inside
October 8, 2024

Democrats rounded up more campaign cash in the past three months than GOP foes in two of the five hottest Texas House races while Democratic challenger Kristian Carranza maintained her lead in the donor dollar derby over State Rep. John Lujan of San Antonio in a race for the seat most likely to flip this fall.

Democrats have raised sufficient amounts to be competitive in a handful of House districts that are ranked highest on the Capitol Inside Texas Races to Watch rankings for the Legislature's lower chamber in 2024.

But Democrats have been massively underfunded in other contests for Republican seats that could be in reach in the event of another blue wave like the one that the minority party rode to victory in a dozen red districts in 2018 when U.S. Senator Ted Cruz was the ballot last.

With Cruz leading Colin Allred by 3 points on average in September polling on the Senate race here, Democrats could be passing up the chance to be in position for such a development with the lack of interest in battles for seats that are viewed more as longshots.

Democratic candidates Averie Bishop of Richardson and Laurel Swift of San Antonio reported contributions of $600,048 and $378,065 respectively in the period that ended on September 26. Swift's opponent, Marc LaHood, raised $359,226 in the nearly three-month span for a race that's open by virtue of his ousting of GOP State Rep. Steve Allison in the primary election.

The Republican who Bishop is targeting - State Rep. Angie Chen Button of Garland - generated $390,701 from donors in the same period. After facing a conservative primary foe who she defeated easily, Button has the overall lead on paper in the House District 112 fundraising sweepstakes with contributions topping $1.1 million compared to Bishop's total haul of more than $917,00 during the 2024 election cycle.

Lujan raised $3,000 more than Carranza with donations to his campaigns of $386,485 and $383,249 during the period. Carranza beat a primary rival by almost 30 points in March when Lujan ran unopposed.

Republican State Rep. Janie Lopez of San Benito reported contributions of $304,024 in the past three months for a defensive stand in House District 37 - a swath of South Texas that GOP leaders and lawmakers designed for their party to claim two years ago.

Lopez's take propelled her over challenger Jonathan Gracia - a Harlingen Democrat who reported only $46,148 from donors during the period that began on July 1. But the HD 37 contest has been a million dollar fight with Gracia relying on nearly a quarter million dollars in loans. Lopez and Gracia had raised $575,000 and $500,000 respectively for the fight heading into the final 10 days.

Democrat Elizabeth Ginsberg of Dallas raised $225,427 during the period in question in a bid for the seat that Republican State Rep. Morgan Meyer is attempting to defend in House District 108. Meyer - one of the House most prolific fundraisers in recent years - brought in $295,000 for the race in the three-month span.

more to come ...