Here’s a sampling of 30 day finance reports from state legislative campaigns. I used the Back to Blue list as a starting point and added a few races of interest to me from there.
Dist Candidate Raised Spent Loan Cash
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SD10 Davis 843,878 346,466 0 1,537,783
SD10 Shelton 606,586 153,204 0 566,825
SD25 Courage 27,603 14,791 0 14,546
SD25 Campbell 566,920 592,332 90,000 7,407
HD12 Stem 29,228 23,325 0 24,566
HD12 Kacal 58,460 33,438 0 30,196
HD23 Eiland 134,051 80,923 0 101,419
HD23 Faircloth 92,890 46,816 30,000 43,089
HD26 Nguyen 12,051 22,808 0 10,840
HD26 Miller 45,765 27,995 1,000 9,496
HD34 Herrero 69,722 49,667 0 25,655
HD34 Scott 125,430 68,349 0 255,629
HD43 Toureilles 46,170 23,973 0 11,585
HD43 Lozano 260,590 185,421 0 89,770
HD45 Adams 48,020 25,800 36,000 32,241
HD45 Isaac 128,502 44,595 140,250 69,918
HD78 Moody 73,754 48,371 0 21,858
HD78 Margo 306,071 82,170 0 202,898
HD85 Olivo 9,738 3,490 2,150 10,143
HD85 Stephenson 34,696 16,146 0 21,677
HD102 Hancock 27,245 4,924 0 7,380
HD102 Carter 112,821 109,543 0 66,776
HD105 Robbins 24,687 36,999 1,505 30,583
HD105 H-Brown 123,449 68,244 52,615 87,997
HD107 Miklos 74,020 56,401 0 24,707
HD107 Sheets 280,354 96,777 0 146,778
HD114 Kent 121,236 89,824 0 132,748
HD114 Villalba 172,885 147,326 0 42,612
HD117 Cortez 48,015 44,610 1,844 18,620
HD117 Garza 52,559 72,669 0 62,371
HD118 Farias 51,015 34,925 0 25,482
HD118 Casias 23,730 21,714 0 852
HD134 Johnson 217,346 103,699 0 263,301
HD134 Davis 332,120 99,582 0 232,383
HD136 Stillwell 61,060 20,842 2,000 8,632
HD136 Dale 112,273 22,798 35,000 82,853
HD137 Wu 58,221 55,152 50,000 32,263
HD137 Khan 55,351 40,877 10,000 23,894
HD144 Perez 104,939 30,082 0 107,729
HD144 Pineda 77,357 49,460 0 33,428
HD149 Vo 38,665 27,632 45,119 48,768
HD149 Williams 134,990 56,342 1,500 74,222
Here’s a sampling of July reports for comparison. A few thoughts:
– I don’t think I’ve ever seen a greater disparity in amount raised and cash on hand as we see here with Donna Campbell. Campbell, of course, had a runoff to win on July 31, which covers the first month of this filing period, and a cursory perusal of her detailed report shows the vast majority of the action was in July, as you’d expect. I’d still have thought she’d collect more cash after the runoff, since she’s a heavy favorite to win in November. Assuming she does win, we’ll need to check out her January report from 2013.
– Overall, the Republicans have done a very good job of raising money to protect their vulnerable incumbents. The main exception to this is John Garza in HD117, though he still leads his opponent, Phillip Cortez. The difference between Rs and Ds on amount spent is a lot smaller, which may indicate that their strategy is to do a late blitz, or it may mean they’re just sitting on a lot of cash.
– Turncoat Rep. JM Lozano initially filed a report with almost no cash raised and no expenses listed. Apparently, he “forgot” over $250K in contributions. That total includes $100K from Associated Republicans of Texas, almost $68K from Texans for Lawsuit Reform, $25K from Texas Republican Representatives Campaign Fund, $6K from the Texas House Leadership Fund, $15K from Bob Perry, and just for good measure, $2K from Koch Industries. Hey, I’d want to forget about all that, too. Here’s his current corrected report; there may be another to come.
– After a somewhat anemic July report, Rep. Sarah Davis kicked into overdrive for this period. Ann Johnson, who has an ad I’ve seen a few times on the Headline News Network, did a pretty good job keeping pace, and still has a cash on hand advantage. I presume Davis has some ads running as well, since she got a $100K in kind contributions from Texans for Lawsuit Reform for TV advertising, but I have not seen any such ads myself. She also collected $100K total from Associated Republicans of Texas ($65K) and Texas Republican Representatives Campaign Fund ($35K), plus $20K from Bob Perry.
– Mary Ann Perez had the next most impressive haul after Ann Johnson, showing some very strong numbers for that open swing seat. I presume her strategy is the do a late push as well, given the cash she has on hand. And given the money they’ve sloshed around to so many other candidates, I’m surprised David Pineda hasn’t been the beneficiary of a few wads of dough from the usual suspects. We’ll see what his 8 day report looks like.
– If your eyes bugged out at Dianne Williams’ totals in HD149, I assure you that mine did as well. A closer look at her detailed report shows that nearly $115K of her total came from one person, a Mrs. Kathaleen Wall. Another $5K or so was in kind from various Republican PACs. Take all that out and her haul is much less impressive. The money is hers to spend, of course, it’s just not indicative of some broad-based support.
That’s all I’ve got. Anything interesting you’ve seen in the reports?
thanks again for all of your work, you are doing a great service. While not exactly finance report related since you mentioned the Davis race I will share that I got a robodialer call on my cell phone saying something about Sarah Davis supporting Planned Parenthood against republican rules. I was driving and didn’t listen to all of it. I wonder if that is a tactic by her opponent to discourage base turnout or if it is some group that really is mad at her.
I am confident this is coming from the Ann Johnson campaign supporters, probably using the information gained during her recent push poll regarding funding of Planned Parenthood. I am aware of no organized opposition to Sarah Davis within Republican ranks, and I would be likely to hear of any. Even the most conservative in our party recognize that this is a socially moderate, fiscally conservative district. Party leaders often comment that Debbie Riddle could not win in Sarah Davis’ district, and Sarah could not win in Debbie Riddle’s district. GOP voters recall how Martha Wong, strongly pro-life, was unable to hold the district even with the advantages of incumbency. Traditional, conservative GOP voters have little incentive to replace Davis with a liberal backed by trial lawyers, even if they disagree with her on some issues.
Kuff……I risk any possibility of having your support if I run for city office again! Since you get a free ride much of the time I am OK with it.
Your comments on Dianne Willimas campaign are weak. Look into to her positions on education, crime, and jobs. Alief, Mission Bend , and much of the rest of District 149 has been left behind the rest of booming Houston. Mr. Vo has done very little in his legislative career except to enhance his own commercial real estate holdings in the District. Home breakins and invasions are way up bucking the trend of other Houston areas.
Do you know that many Vietnamese in the District believe that Mr. Vo knows who they vote for. Some who are afraid to be seen with me because I ran against Mr. Vo in 2010. Many Democrats have blinders on.
Mr. Vo lives in For Bend Dianne Williams has lived in the district for over 30 years as HOA Board President and community activist. You Kuff have not done your homework.
Compared to 2010, Dianne is a better candidate than Iwas. She has many friends who are legilators and in public service.
The way you pucker up to some and dismiss others is annoying. A long time ago, I grew up in New York…and an expression comes to mind……
You, Mr. Kuff, are a schmuck!
I heard her on the issues. Not impressed.
Dianne Williams said at the Alief HCC forum that the greatest issue facing Alief was human trafficking and if we closed the border with Mexico this would be better.
She didn’t really offer a position on vouchers at all. She just went on about how we’re talking about the issue. Perhaps she can clear that up with voters in the District who think that the quality of their local schools is a bigger issue than equipping more South Texas sheriffs with tactical gear that they’ll never use.
Well, Mr. O’Connor, if you are sincere in hoping to get my support in a future city election, calling me a penis is an interesting way to go about it. On the plus side, you have found some common ground with me, as I too am a fan of Yiddish. So with that, let me say that you, sir, are a meshugener and a shmendrik. Happy Googling.
That evil Bob Perry. All those nasty tea party Republicans he is giving money to: Garnet Coleman, Carol Alvarado, $75k to Mario Gallegos…
Mr. Kuff……..I take it that your are not using meshugener in an endearing way and deservingly so. I hope you will give more balance to your comments, and with that I will continue to follow your posts!
Greg………
I am responding to your comments about, (I believe at the Alief Super Neighborhood event at HCC), Dianne Williams positions as I understood them. Immigration issues are real but may have to be settled on a Federal level.
With regard to the vouchers I believe her position was that she wanted to do away with the reasons why many feel we need them. I help finance Texas public schools via a required contribution to the state. My child went to a Catholic Grammar school and Strake. He would have had to go to Lee High and we did not think he would get a good education there. I am very much for public schools and know that most ISD’s cannot compete with private schools (regulations and a lack of focus). As we see growth in private schools we also see the parents of those students also leave the public education process and system.
The HISD Bond issue is a tense one. This one, if any, should be considered because the physical schools may deteriorate before it can capitalize on its academic gains. Its schools cannot compete because computers and access to a network simply do not exist for many students…..the schools are too old and not cabable of sustaining technology assisted learning. At the same time Dianne Williams, I believe, wants the schools to have more local control and with greater technology help to improve the high cost of education and make the dollars work better. She will fight for the appropriate funding and spending the dollars wisely.
I ran against Dianne a Primary two years ago. While I won, I learned that her experience and skills were highly developed. She is certainly the better candidate now. I now live just North of 149 but would like to see all of West Houston as well as the rest of the city prosper with a firm gripe on reality. Dianne First job was in the LA County school system. She should at least be heard! I am convinced she will bring a very colaborative approach to education and other issues critical to the District’s future!
Greg………
I am responding to your comments about, (I believe at the Alief Super Neighborhood event at HCC), Dianne Williams positions as I understood them. Immigration issues are real but may have to be settled on a Federal level.
With regard to the vouchers I believe her position was that she wanted to do away with the reasons why many feel we need them. I help finance Texas public schools via a required contribution to the state. My child went to a Catholic Grammar school and Strake. He would have had to go to Lee High and we did not think he would get a good education there. I am very much for public schools and know that most ISD’s cannot compete with private schools (regulations and a lack of focus). As we see growth in private schools we also see the parents of those students also leave the public education process and system.
The HISD Bond issue is a tense one. This one, if any, should be considered because the physical schools may deteriorate before it can capitalize on its academic gains. Its schools cannot compete because computers and access to a network simply do not exist for many students…..the schools are too old and not cabable of sustaining technology assisted learning. At the same time Dianne Williams, I believe, wants the schools to have more local control and with greater technology help to improve the high cost of education and make the dollars work better. She will fight for the appropriate funding and spending the dollars wisely.
I ran against Dianne a Primary two years ago. While I won, I learned that her experience and skills were highly developed. She is certainly the better candidate now. I now live just North of 149 but would like to see all of West Houston as well as the rest of the city prosper with a firm gripe on reality. Dianne First job was in the LA County school system. She should at least be heard! I am convinced she will bring a very colaborative approach to education and other issues critical to the District’s future!
So does that mean she votes for Dan Patrick’s voucher bill or not? … and is “appropriate” the full $5B-plus that needs to go back toward education before we even get to more recent population growth?
Again … this is the type of specificity she’s not addressing. You wanted to see someone considering her on issues and those are issues every legislator will be dealing with in January.
The votes are going to come up and you have to vote one way or the other. They aren’t philosophical debates once you get elected. Dianne doesn’t have a problem getting heard. She just has a problem offering a meaningful answer.
Greg…..sorry you feel that way. I think that her position with those that demand vouchers is that the root problem has to be fixed …:……making public schools more desirable to send your children to. Dianne will be more productive for better education than the incumbent in my opinion.
Just let us know when she has a position on how she’d vote. I’m pretty sure I know what all the evasiveness means. But feel free to prove me wrong.
I have not yet seen the text of a voucher bill proposal, and would not expect a candidate to have made a final analysis. Does a school accepting vouchers have to meet state curriculum standards? or can the funds go to a fundamentalist Protestant school teaching young earth Creationism? or an Islamic one denying the historical accuracy of the Holocaust? Can I use the voucher to take my HISD student over to Katy ISD, or vice-versa? Is the voucher limited to students assigned to failing schools only? I don’t think the political inquiry is so simple as just whether a candidate is for or against vouchers. Most of us on the center to right of the spectrum support some framework for, or experiments allowing vouchers, but the devil is in the detail.
Greg…….as the sides become more polarized it will be worthwhile to have someone who will question members of both parties’ motives and actions on education. Dianne is that person. Believe or not, there people who are not Democrats that desperately want public education to survive and thrive. Driving the people away from public education, who pay a high level of tax that supports it, is something Dianne sincerely wants to reverse. Her opponent, Hubert Vo, has not been effective leader in the House and as a result education suffers.
I’m just not convinced that Dianne’s inability to give a straight answer can properly be blamed on some ethereal understanding of polarization. There was certainly no point when I saw her that she seemed questioning of Republican Party orthodoxy – certainly not on immigration.
And it’s not just me. Here’s the Chronicle’s take in today’s editorial:
Sounds familiar.
The Chronicle is off base in this case. They go on to say, however, that Vo needs to clean up his act. The comment just ahead of you last comment makes sense to me. In any event Vo has not done much in his career as a legislator.
I find it hard to believe that Vo has been given a lot slack and believe he will have even less influence in the next session.
And all this time I thought it was spelled ‘meshuganah’.
I believe it is “Meshugeneh”! Interesting that you commented on that rather the other more controversial stuff.
As with all transliterations, English spelling will vary. I’m pretty sure any way you spell it, you’ll get some Google hits for it. And I personally think it’s amusing that us three goys are having this little debate about it.
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