The latest campaign finance news from The Texas Tribune.
Paxton’s campaign admitted last week that it was having problems trying to report all his latest donor data and would file an amended report — but as of Tuesday, it had yet to do so. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b338bf06354dc076bb8e0036880cb50f/Ken%20Paxton%20TPPF%202018%20MKC%20TT%2001.jpg)
The Supreme Court next month will hear arguments in his challenge to the law that prevents the repayment, prompting fears among watchdog groups that another rollback of campaign finance regulations might be looming. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e535c47dcb3c10771e58737d6e57dba7/Ted%20Cruz%20Presser%20REUTERS%20TT.jpg)
Under a 2002 federal law, no more than $250,000 in contributions collected after an election may be used to repay a candidate’s loans to their campaign. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/8397f2ba65dd72d9b29257e93a61ce3c/Ted%20Cruz%20Capitol%20Hill%20REUTERS%20TT%2001.jpg)
Bush started his Paxton challenge with a fundraising lead of $2.3 million to $1.8 million, but Paxton easily maintains the most cash on hand in a primary that also includes Eva Guzman, the former state Supreme Court justice. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b192f589bc89559fc9d05867b3c911b8/George%20P%20Bush%20Announces%20SF%20TT%2030.jpg)
The former state Supreme Court justice is one of two Republican primary challengers to Attorney General Ken Paxton, the other being Land Commissioner George P. Bush. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/cc686b081332e8b7efccad02ef0aca63/Eva%20Guzman%20Texas%20Supreme%20Court%20BD%20TT%2003.jpg)
Abbott’s campaign coffers hit the balance after he raised over $18.7 million during the last 10 days of June, his campaign announced Thursday. The campaign said the cash-on-hand total was larger “than any other statewide candidate in Texas history.” Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7c0979ef47826cf6d9d3e298bd40ce13/Power%20Grid%20Bill%20Signing%20SP%20TT%2005.jpg)
For months, Gov. Greg Abbott and the 2019 Texas Inaugural Committee fought to avoid disclosing how they spent a record-setting $5.3 million. The Texas Tribune sued and obtained the documents in an out-of-court settlement. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/39b44c967e5d30731e1d93254869bbe7/04_Greg_Abbott_Oath_of_Office_Ceremony_MG.jpg)
MJ Hegar's challenge of U.S. Sen. John Cornyn has attracted millions of dollars in financial support, most of it late in the race. She's now in better financial shape than the incumbent, but time is running short. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/83f1a8a01334ca3e63ae441168105cdb/Hegar%20Cornyn%20Debate%20BD%20TT%2013.jpg)
The group, Blue Texas PAC, comes as it remains to be seen how much the Biden campaign will invest in Texas. Polls are showing a close race here. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3c6ce33d4d107a172dccb623f7e60c44/Biden%20Houston%20MS%20TT.jpg)
Midway through 2016, Texas Republicans had $20.9 million more for their U.S. House campaigns than Democrats. This year, Democrats have a $7.5 million advantage. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f0d7ec87b741c6a067882695995d4578/US%20Capitol%20DC%20REUTERS%20TT.jpg)
The former Dallas congressman has spent over $80,000 on legal fees since launching his campaign to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Bill Flores, R-Bryan. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/61f70f1a478ea1059d74e5eece83eb85/Pete%20Sessions%20AP%20TT.jpg)
Tzintzún Ramirez finished closely behind West last week in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/29d2004f900d4960394fd28fdaeef70e/Royce%20West%20and%20Christina%20Tzintzun%20Ramirez%20EG%2001.jpg)
A well-heeled loser of a lawsuit that went to the Texas Supreme Court did a detailed analysis and concluded that the big law firms that politically support the judges get the best results. Maybe money is the reason, maybe it's not. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/482181562326f58b71adb9eff7fbe44d/Texas%20Supreme%20Court%20MG%20TT%2015.jpg)
In the crowded field of U.S. Senate candidates, Hegar raised $638,000 during the first six weeks of 2020, according to campaign finance reports that were due Thursday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/111207d67b2b4ada020fc472c1af05c0/MJ%20Hegar%20Portraits%20MG%20TT%2007.jpg)
The Republican-leaning business group went on TV on Tuesday in the nationally watched primary, which has drawn over $2 million in outside spending. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e550443273b957e530ad08ab692b5148/Henry%20Cuellar%20REUTERS%20VC%20TT.jpg)
A pro-Hegar group, VoteVets, is launching a $3.3 million TV ad buy backing her as she tries to make it to an all-but-guaranteed runoff. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/85b3913c71dea31a8f96acf9147f4abd/06_MJ_Hegar_MK_TT.jpg)
The filings were due Friday and shed new light on Texas' massive U.S. House battlefield, which includes seven Democrat-targeted seats, six open seats, two Republican-targeted seats and a couple of serious primary challenges. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/81c9da53207033f52e08714094eaa6b6/Election%20Day%20Signs%20EG%2001.jpg)
Some of the 12 candidates have clearer advantages than others, but it is an open question who will make a widely expected runoff. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c6bd20b88c73446ab1c384aece89ae21/Election%20Day%20Signs%20EG%20TT%2006.jpg)
The reports, which were due Wednesday, provide the first fundraising checkpoint since the candidate fields were finalized last month. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/748ad4cfb33e1510c56d65e56e84bbd9/01_Capitol_Building_AP_TT.jpg)
“You’ll be seeing a lot of me before now and November, God willing," the former vice president said at a rally in the hometown of fellow Democratic candidate Julián Castro. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e26763b68650f67472d095c350d2b258/Biden%20San%20Antonio%20EG%20TT%2002.jpg)