Democrats haul in big election money
They report growing fundraising totals in two GOP-held districts.
Democratic candidates posted big fundraising totals this week in two GOP-held congressional districts in Central Texas during the last three months of 2017, a further sign that Democratic enthusiasm during this election season is reaching into deep red Texas.
Austin entrepreneur Joseph Kopser, running to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio, raised $260,858 and has $337,337.53 cash on hand during the reporting period, according to campaign finance reports filed this week. Those totals are more than any of the 18 Republicans running in the 21st Congressional District.
In the 31st Congressional District, which encompasses Williamson and Bell counties, Democrat Mary Jennings Hegar, an Afghanistan war veteran and author, raised $101,056 for the period. Another Democrat in the race, Kent Lester, a military veteran and former educator in Belton public schools, reported raising $154,279, though $140,000 of it was his own money.
Incumbent Republican Rep. John Carter of Round Rock raised $120,155. Carter, however, has more than $400,000 in cash on hand, far more than Democrats running in that district.
Both districts have long been considered safe Republican territory, but Democratic operatives say both could be in play amid a national Democratic wave in November. Primaries are on March 6.
“I am humbled and honored by the incredible support our campaign has received in the fourth quarter,” said Kopser, who was endorsed this week by state Sen.
Kirk Watson, D-Austin, and state Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin. “With the help of our volunteers, donors and supporters, we have shown that we can create the coalition we need to restore real leadership to Texas’ 21st District.”
“The support Joseph Kopser is showing in CD 21 is a perfect example of the broad and deep enthusiasm good Democratic candidates are getting,” said Matt Angle, director of the Lone Star Project, a Democratic political action committee based in Washington. “He is giving hope to the faithful and making believers out of skeptics.”
Another Democrat running in the district, Austinite Derrick Crowe, a former congressional staffer, raised $50,963 in the fourth quarter. Democrat Elliott McFadden, executive director of Austin B-cycle, a bike-sharing program, raised $21,330 in the fourth quarter.
The 21st District stretches from the north side of San Antonio to Central Austin and includes all or part of eight Hill Country counties.
Smith — who has drawn the ire of Democrats over his climate change skepticism as head of the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space and Technology — has represented the district for 30 years and only once received less than 60 percent of the vote: in 2016 when he defeated Democrat Tom Wakely by 21 percent.
After Smith announced his retirement, the race drew 18 Republicans. The top fundraiser among them, San Antonio’s William Negley, a former CIA agent, raised $249,582, including a loan to himself of $105,000, and has cash on hand of $218,436.
His closest GOP opponent in fundraising, Chip Roy, a former chief of staff to U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, raised $200,211.05 and has $194,630.88 cash on hand.
“It’s a tough district,” said Texas GOP consultant and Travis County Republican Party Chairman Matt Mackowiak, who does not represent any of the candidates. “Fundraising is a leading indicator of what it takes to make a runoff.” Mackowiak maintains that the district will stay Republican.
In the 27th Congressional District, the other open seat in Central Texas, Republican Bech Bruun, former chairman of the Texas Water Development Board, led all candidates in fundraising with $124,305. He has $119,490 on hand.
U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Corpus Christi, who represents the district, which includes parts of Bastrop and Caldwell counties, is not seeking re-election.
His conduct is the focus of a House investigation after he used federal funds to settle a sexual harassment complaint from a former staff member.
Also vying for the district is Republican Michael Cloud of Victoria who raised $44,335 in the fourth quarter and has $32,579 in cash available, while Democrat Eric Holguin raised $9,086 and has $3,739 in cash on hand.
Several congressional incumbents representing Central Texas districts were well ahead of other candidates in fundraising.
U.S. Rep. Roger Williams, R-Austin, reported $179,884.41 in contributions in the fourth quarter and nearly $1.2 million cash on hand. Among seven Democratic challengers, the two top fundraisers were Christopher Perri, with nearly $103,000 in contributions and $41,280 cash on hand, and Chetan Panda, who raised $99,336 and has $16,942 cash on hand.
U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, reported raising $154,845 in the last quarter with nearly $4 million cash on hand. Two GOP candidates are seeking to run against him, with the top fundraiser, David Smalling, reporting $21,478 for the fourth quarter with cash on hand of $16,041.
U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, raised $336,846 and reported cash on hand of $378,687. Nine Democrats are seeking to run against him, with the largest totals reported by Tami Leane Walker with $34,865 in the fourth quarter and $16,441 cash on hand.
U.S. Rep. Bill Flores, R-Bryan, reported $111,275 in fourth quarter contributions and $513,750 cash on hand.
Two Democrats are seeking to run against him, with Richard Kennedy leading in fundraising with $53,525 in the fourth quarter and $41,757.79 cash on hand.