Governor Greg Abbott and Republican groups are putting a lot of money into three Democrat-controlled state House districts in South Texas. This financial support is giving the GOP an advantage and a chance to increase their majority in the lower chamber. In the period of early July to late September, Republicans raised significantly more money than their Democratic opponents in the races to replace retiring state Representatives Abel Herrero and Tracy King. Additionally, in House District 74, Democratic state Rep. Eddie Morales was outraised by GOP nominee Robert Garza.
The total fundraising amount for Republican candidates across the three districts was over $1 million, while their Democratic opponents only raised $243,000. This fundraising surge indicates that Republicans are eyeing the opportunity to make gains in the fall elections in a House landscape where few seats are considered competitive.
On the other hand, Democrats are also actively campaigning to flip several GOP-controlled seats across Texas. They are targeting districts where Democrat Joe Biden would have won over Republican Donald Trump in 2020 if the new boundaries had been in place. Despite facing tough competition, Democrats are hopeful about their chances, especially with the support of the Texas Majority PAC, which is focusing on voter turnout efforts and strengthening local party infrastructure.
While Republicans have a financial advantage in South Texas House races, Democrats have a built-in partisan advantage in at least two of the districts being targeted by the GOP. This advantage, along with the fundraising support from groups like Texas Majority PAC, gives Democrats hope of retaining these seats.
In addition to the South Texas races, Democrats are also making significant financial gains in other parts of Texas. In the Dallas suburbs, Democratic challenger Averie Bishop raised a substantial amount of money compared to Republican incumbent Angie Chen Button. Bishop received support from various political groups, including Leaders We Deserve PAC and Fair Shot Texas PAC. Despite being outraised, Button has more cash on hand as the campaign enters its final weeks.
Overall, the financial landscape of the upcoming Texas House races is dynamic, with both Republicans and Democrats actively fundraising and campaigning to secure key seats. The substantial fundraising efforts on both sides indicate the high stakes involved in these races and the importance of controlling the Texas House.