New campaign finance filings provide the first glimpse of the financial and political fault lines emerging in the open primaries for key statewide offices.
campaign finance
U.S. Rep. August Pfluger benefits from fund drive promoting third Trump term
A Trump official says the president did not approve the fundraising message connected to the Republican Study Committee.
Jeff Yass, billionaire school voucher advocate, gives Greg Abbott another $4 million
The donation follows another $6 million Yass gave Abbott in January, which the governor’s campaign said was the largest single donation in Texas history.
West Texas pastor who used illegal donations from churches to campaign for office is fined $3,500
Fines issued to Scott Beard of Abilene’s Fountaingate Fellowship and two pastors follow reporting from ProPublica and The Texas Tribune that revealed the churches donated to his campaign for local office despite state and federal prohibitions.
Texas school districts violated a law intended to add transparency to local elections
The Texas Tribune and ProPublica analyzed 35 Texas school districts that held trustee elections last fall and found none that posted all of the required campaign finance records.
Ken Paxton paid $2.3 million to defense lawyers for impeachment trial
The lawyers were paid from his campaign, according to a report filed this week.
Defend Texas Liberty promised big primary spending. Then its leader met with an Adolf Hitler fan.
The Defend Texas Liberty PAC gave just $10,000 in the last two months of 2023 and received no new money from its billionaire funders.
School voucher supporter gave Gov. Greg Abbott $6 million in December
The contribution is the largest single campaign donation in Texas history, according to Abbott’s campaign.
U.S. Rep. Colin Allred raises $4.7 million in third quarter of U.S. Senate campaign
The Dallas congressman collected the sum over the last three months, continuing to show he could be Cruz’s biggest financial threat in the Democratic primary.
Churches’ role in Abilene election prompts calls for investigations
West Texas voters rejected three conservative Christian candidates who sought to infuse religious values into local politics. The campaign support the candidates received from local churches has prompted calls for state and federal probes.


