Abbott puts funds into state House races
Governor spending $275,000 to protect competitive districts
AUSTIN — Gov. Greg Abbott’s campaign is pumping more than $275,000 into vulnerable state House Republican races, trying to bat down any Democratic gains in the Nov. 6 election.
With a $26 million campaign war chest, Abbott’s spending is also a public pronouncement of his patron role in the party in Texas.
“One thing that Abbott is using this cycle to do is to establish himself as the unquestioned leader of the Republican party,” said Rice University political scientist Mark Jones.
Since August, Abbott’s campaign has funded political advertising and grassroots support for nine Republican candidates in the Dallas and Austin areas, according to campaign finance reports. All are competitive districts that Hillary Clinton won or barely lost in the 2016 election.
It’s the first time Abbott has waded into state House races since the GOP primaries, when he drew some criticism from within the party by working to defeat three sitting Republican representatives, including Rep. Lyle Larson, R-San Antonio, and Rep. Sarah Davis, R-West University Place.
Gavel up for grabs
Democrats tout Abbott’s final-stretch spending as confirmation the seats are in their grasp.
“It confirms to me that they are trying to build some kind of firewall or prevent the inevitable,” said Trey Martinez Fischer, a Democratic candidate for state representative in San Antonio who previously served in the House. “Democrats are going to increase seats. How many is really up to the voters.”
Abbott’s campaign is planning to invest in more state legislative races during the final weeks, but spokesman John Wittman wouldn’t name which ones. Early voting begins Monday. Abbott is in his own race against Democratic challenger Lupe Valdez, though she trails in fundraising and in recent polls.
“The governor wants to help Republicans who might be in tighter races than others,” Wittman said. “Our campaign goal is to help Republicans up and down the ballot.”
Republicans already hold a commanding 95 to 55 majority in the Texas House , a majority that is not threatened in this election cycle. Still, Abbott stands to benefit from fostering goodwill in his party before the 2019 legislative session when he wants to tackle property tax reform. The House proved a foil to controversial social policies Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick advocated for in the 2017 special session when the chamber was led by Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio.
With Straus departing this year after nearly a decade in power, the gavel is up for grabs, and at least five representatives are in the running.
Abbott’s campaign has shelled out the most money — roughly $50,000 on political advertising — for Rep. Paul Workman, R-Austin, campaign finance records show. Workman has been in office since 2011 and has fended off primary challenges from the tea party. Travis County is one of several that’s seen a surge in voter registrations ahead of the midterm, with election officials still processing thousands of applications.
‘We have moved on’
Abbott can take some credit if the House seats remain in Republican hands, Jones said.
“These members of the House will owe part of their victory to Greg Abbott for financial support,” he said. “Others will look more favorably upon him.”
One vulnerable Republican Abbott isn’t financially backing is Davis, a moderate he spent hundreds of thousands of dollars trying to oust in the primary. Abbott also backed the GOP primary winner who defeated Rep. Wayne Faircloth, R-Galveston, in the March primary election.
Texas Republican Party chairman James Dickey said those divisions are in the past.
“Those were very much exceptions and since then we have all moved on,” he said. “We are all focused on making sure every Republican nominee wins election in November.”
Martinez Fischer said any Democratic pick-ups in the House will be key to influence the chamber’s tone and the race for House Speaker.
Straus won the leadership role with Democrats’ support and installed members of both parties as committee chairs.
“Every single Democrat is going to do their very best to make sure the House continues to maintain its independence, regardless of what the politics look like in the Senate and the governor’s mansion,” Martinez Fischer said.
Some Republicans, however, are planning for a new selection process this year that calls for picking a preferred candidate before the full House vote.