|
| OFFICE |
CANDIDATE |
JAN 23-FEB 21 |
FUNDRAISING |
CASH FEB 21 |
| Governor |
Greg Abbott (R-Inc) |
$2,139,000 |
$45,038,176 |
$95,503,028 |
| |
Gina Hinojosa (D) |
$951,069 |
$2,293,624 |
$617,635 |
| Comptroller |
Kelly Hancock (R-Inc) |
$3,166,712 |
$6,809,536 |
$1,292,913 |
| |
Don Huffines (R) |
$1,327,355 |
$32,568,032 |
$2,548,529 |
| |
Christi Craddick (R) |
$2,853,375 |
$7,503,140 |
$1,459,240 |
| |
Sarah Eckhardt (D) |
$57,884 |
$172,513 |
$145,644 |
| Ag Commissioner |
Sid Miller (R-Inc) |
$351,644 |
$713,596 |
$164,456 |
| |
Nate Sheets (R) |
$1,064,677 |
$2,848,724 |
$150,202 |
| |
Clayton Tucker (D) |
$17,611 |
$176,297 |
$52,508 |
|
|
Abbott Spends Record Sum on Hancock
that Craddick Counters with Ryan Cash
Capitol Inside
February 24, 2026
Governor Greg Abbott poured almost $2.6 million into Comptroller Kelly Hancock's campaign for the post in the past month in a high-stakes wager that he needs to win to keep the value of his stock from falling in a primary election with several other candidates he's endorsed in danger of going down.
The Republican governor's largess accounted for 81 percent of nearly $3.17 million that Hancock raised in the month-long period that he ended on Saturday with almost $1.3 million in cash on hand for the final 10 days of the contest.
Abbott spent almost $208,000 in the same span of time on Nate Sheets' campaign for the statewide position that Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is seeking again. Sheets raised $1.06 million from contributors between January 23 and February 21 - and he capped it off $254,890 in loans for his campaign - bringing the challenger's war chest infusion to $1.3 million and change for the period.
Miller rounded up almost $352,000 during the past month - a healthy sum by his own modest fundraising standards for a race in which he's had one dollar for every $4 that Sheets has for his bid. Sheets also has reaped a major benefit that can't be measured in money as a member of Abbott's traveling roadshow that's featured Hancock and local legislators and candidates as well during the early voting period.
But Sheets has been no match for the incumbent when it comes to the most important asset that a Texas Republican can have for competitive primary fights outside of President Donald Trump's endorsement. Sheets is a North Texas beekeeper who's a political novice in a battle with an incumbent who has name identification that money alone can't buy after winning the farm boss job three times. Miller's huge following on social media has made it possible to do so without depending as much on contributors to gold-plate a path.
Abbott's donations to Hancock - his hand-picked candidate with an appointment to an opening in the comptroller's office last year - represents the largest amount of campaign cash he's ever given to an individual candidate for a primary or general election campaign in a singular election season. But Abbott would have a considerable amount to lose if Hancock is eliminated in the first round after trailing former Texas Senate Republican Don Huffines and Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick in recent polling on the competition for comptroller here.
Abbott has appeared to want to have nothing to do with Huffines since he challenged him without success in the gubernatorial primary in 2022. But Huffines has had four or five times more to spend on the race this year than Craddick and Hancock - and the ex-solon has been perceived in recent weeks as the favorite after leading in polls that showed the incumbent who Abbott appointed running third.
But Craddick countered the record Abbott infusion for Hancock by raising almost $2.9 million for her campaign in the past month with most coming courtesy of Britt Ryan or associates at the tax consulting firm he runs in Dallas. Huffines added $1.33 million to a record shattering war chest in the same period with the lion's share as donations from himself. Huffines has raised nearly $33 million for the comptroller's race - most of which came in the form of personal loans to his campaign.
Craddick and Hancock appear to be competing for the second spot in overtime after raising $7.5 million and $6.8 million respectively for the statewide race.
Abbott raised less money in the past month for his own re-election race than the sum he pumped into the Hancock coffers in surprisingly late attempt to lift him into a runoff with a runner-up finish at worst at the polls next Tuesday. The governor reported contributions of $2.1 million during the period. But Abbott's cash balance dipped below 10 figures with the record support for Hancock - and he had less than $96.5 million in reserve for the stretch of a primary contest that hasn't been competitive despite multiple contenders for the GOP.
more to come ...
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