FORT WORTH - One of the hottest local legislative races this fall just got hotter.
Months away from the November election, new financial reports show that Democratic state Sen. Wendy Davis - who drew national attention for successfully fighting a map drawn by the GOP-led legislature that would have revamped the Senate district she represents - raised more than $820,000 for her re-election bid this year and has nearly $1.1 million on hand.Her Republican opponent, Fort Worth pediatrician state Rep. Mark Shelton, raised $282,037 during the same time period and has $301,146 in cash on hand, according to state campaign finance records documenting donations and expenses this year."In some ways, Wendy Davis is a statewide candidate," said Jim Riddlesperger, a political science professor at Texas Christian University. "Democrats have so few candidates and she is seen as a real leader in the party. This is a seat that Democrats statewide want to hold on to."Here's a look at the money in this race, and two others where candidates are preparing for a July 31 runoff.Senate District 10Shelton is trying to win back for his party the seat that former state Sen. Kim Brimer, R-Arlington, represented until Davis in 2008 claimed the post. In that race, she earned 49.91 percent of the vote to Brimer's 47.52 percent and Libertarian Richard A. Cross's 2.56 percent, election records show.Davis, a former Fort Worth councilwoman, became a lightning rod for the GOP last year after staging a filibuster at the end of the legislative session, protesting public education cuts and forcing a special session. Attempts to revamp her district into a much more Republican area were thwarted by legal wrangling and court rulings that left the district as it was in 2008.A review of this year's contributions shows that within Tarrant County, Davis raised $242,000 and Shelton raised $33,025.Among Shelton's donations: $50,000 from Houston homebuilder Bob Perry and his wife Doylene, $25,000 from the Texans for Lawsuit Reform political action committee, $10,000 from the Fraser for Texas Senate Campaign, $5,000 from the Valero Energy Corporation PAC, $2,500 from Fort Worth philanthropist Anne Marion, $1,000 from the Chesapeake Energy for Texans PAC and $200 from former Fort Worth Mayor Bob Bolen."In State Senate District 10's May primary, 34,958 Republicans voted compared to only 17,230 Democrats," said Clayton Stewart, campaign manager for Shelton. "Our fund raising has just begun."Davis' donations include $50,000 from Annie's List, a Texas-based political action committee that recruits and funds Democratic female political candidates; $24,500 from Lisa Baron, a Dallas attorney and widow of Fred Baron, a major giver to Texas Democrats and in national politics; $10,000 from the Chickasaw Nation; $10,000 from Hard Rock Cafe co-founder Peter Morton; $2,500 from the Chet Edwards for Congress fund; and $2,500 from former Lt. Gov. Ben Barnes; and $250 from former Fort Worth Mayor Kenneth Barr."I'm grateful to have the support of so many people in the district, whether it is their time or their hard-earned dollars, for my re-election campaign to continue working on the priorities of those in Senate District 10," Davis said. "The enormous strength of the campaign inspires my resolve to continue fighting for the priorities of the district."House District 91In the race to replace state Rep. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills, Ken Sapp drew 39.82 percent of the vote while Stephanie Klick took 31.92 percent in the May 29 primary, forcing a runoff.New campaign finance records show that Sapp, a former mayor pro tem of North Richland Hills, has received $45,000 in recent donations and has more than $38,000 on hand. Klick, former chairwoman of the Tarrant County Republican Party, got more than $41,000 in contributions and has $32,881 on hand, state records show.Among Sapp's donations: $500 from the Atmos Energy Corporation PAC, $1,000 from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas PAC AND $1,500 from the AT&T Texas PAC.Among Klick's donations: $1,000 from the Apartment Association of Tarrant County; $1,000 from the Bill Zedler Campaign; $1,000 from Citizens for Taxpayers Rights; $1,000 from the Craig Goldman campaign; and $50 from former Fort Worth City Councilman Clyde Picht.House District 95The race to replace state Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, also heads to the July 31 runoff as well.Voters will choose between attorneys Nicole Collier, who drew 48.18 percent in the May 29 primary, and Jesse Gaines, who earned 38.44 percent.Campaign reports show Collier drew nearly $40,000 and has nearly $10,000 on hand. Among her donations: $13,500 from Annie's List, $10,000 from Houston attorney Amber Mostyn and $5,000 from Texans for Insurance Reform.Gaines' report shows he raised $7,885 and has $242.76 on hand. His donations include $200 from the Rev. Nehemiah Davis of Fort Worth, $2,500 from the Fort Worth Firefighters Committee and $500 from former Tarrant County Commissioner Dionne Bagsby.Anna M. Tinsley, 817-390-7610Twitter: @annatinsleyHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
