Blanco Edges Gonzalez in HD-76 Fundraising Totals

In El Paso's House District 76 race, newcomer Cesar Blanco, who’s looking to knock off incumbent state Rep. Naomi R. Gonzalez in the Democratic primary, shows his campaign raised about $70,100 for the filing period that began in July and ended in December. It shows about $33,900 left on hand after spending about $15,800.

That’s compared with the $67,900 raised by Gonzalez. She reports spending about $41,100 and having about $7,000 left. Former state Rep. Norma Chávez was a distant third, hauling in about $5,100 in contributions. She reports about $60,700 on hand and has an outstanding loan balance of $75,000, according to her filing.

Blanco, a former chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Pete Gallego, D-Alpine, is a Navy veteran and has worked as an aide to former U.S. Reps. Silvestre Reyes, D-El Paso, and Ciro Rodriguez, D-San Antonio. Gonzalez defeated Chávez in the 2010 primary runoff election and was unopposed in 2012. Chávez served 14 years in the Texas House and was first elected in 1996.