Q3 Fundraising Could Mean Tight House Races

Texas congressional incumbents raised more than $4.7 million during the third quarter of the year, but some of them face challengers who also displayed a knack for raising political cash. New fundraising reports show what’s in the war chests of Texans vying for seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, giving definition to some of the state’s most closely watched races.

State Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, wowed by bringing in more than $500,000 for his challenge to U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin. Doggett raised $377,000 by comparison – but he reported millions more in cash on hand, $3.3 million to Castro’s $389,000.

U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-El Paso, raised almost $290,000 in the third quarter, far outpacing his first serious challenger, Beto O’Rourke. The former El Paso City Council member raised almost $26,000 and ended the quarter with about $12,000 on hand to Reyes’s $276,000.

State Rep. Pete Gallego, D-Alpine, reported another of the top challenger fundraising numbers – about $137,500 – in his contest with U.S. Rep. Francisco “Quico” Canseco, R-San Antonio, who raised slightly less. The incumbent reported about $460,000 in cash on hand to Gallego’s nearly $136,000.

U.S. Reps. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, and Pete Sessions, R-Dallas, joined the ranks of big-contribution incumbents with little opposition fundraising to threaten them.

Topping that list, though, was U.S. Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Dallas, who raised more than $473,000. The co-chairman of the congressional "supercommittee" — tasked with finding more than $1 trillion in deficit reductions — was one of just three members of the 12-member panel to raise more than they did in the second quarter, prior to their appointment, according to Politico. 

Former Texas Secretary of State Roger Williams, a Republican, brought in more than $810,000 for a cash-on-hand total of almost $1.5 million. His contributions include $535,000 in a committee transfer, likely from his old U.S. Senate bid. He reported $425,000 in total outstanding loans.

Former Texas Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams, a Republican, also reported a triple-digit fundraising haul, about $170,000, and ended the quarter with almost $250,000 on hand. He reported almost $150,000 in total outstanding loans.

Use the table below to see how House incumbents performed in the third quarter. To view campaign finance data for all House candidates, including the challengers, click here.