Lupe Valdez bounces back in fundraising but Andrew White has more to spend ahead of runoff

Texas Elections 2018

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz defeated Democratic challenger Beto O'Rourke in the race for U.S. Senate. View full 2018 Texas election results or subscribe to The Brief for the latest election news.

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Lupe Valdez has bounced back in fundraising against Andrew White, her opponent in the Democratic runoff for governor, but he still reported having more money to spend with about a week until the election. 

Valdez, who has been outraised by White in every previous period, turned that trend around during the latest fundraising period, according to campaign figures and filings that were due Monday to the Texas Ethics Commission. Valdez raised about $208,000 from Feb. 25 through Saturday, while White took in $179,000, according to his TEC report.

White maintained a wider cash-on-hand advantage: $981,000, his report said. Valdez's figure was $115,000, according to her campaign. White's advantage is still being fueled by a $1 million loan he made to his campaign in January.

Valdez's campaign said Tuesday evening it was filing a corrected report due to an "administrative error." The numbers it initially reported to the TEC were significantly higher — $291,000 raised and $258,000 cash on hand.

Valdez, the former Dallas County sheriff, and White, the son of late Gov. Mark White, are competing to challenge Republican Gov. Greg Abbott. The Democrats' fundraising numbers continue to pale in comparison to Abbott's $41 million war chest. 

Valdez's advantage in fundraising during the most recent period was helped by the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, which gave her a total of $60,000. She also got a $25,000 contribution from Domingo Garcia, a prominent Dallas attorney and political activist.

Valdez and White are the only statewide race in the May 22 runoff. Early voting continues through Friday.