Millions of dollars raked in for some Texas legislative races

Local politicians are getting ready for Nov. 8.

So are their challengers.

Both are busy shoring up their war chests with plenty of time to spare before the Nov. 8 general election.

Even though most North Texans are focused on the race for the White House, Tarrant County politicians and challengers so far have banked more than $2.6 million, the latest campaign finance reports filed with the Texas Ethics Commission show.

“It’s a good amount of money at this point,” said Allan Saxe, an associate political science professor at the University of Texas at Arlington. “The donations are likely to go up as the election time approaches.”

Even so, many of the biggest local political fights have already happened.

“In Tarrant County, as in much of Texas, the real action occurs in the spring primaries (especially the GOP primary), not in the general election,” said Mark P. Jones, a political science professor at Rice University in Houston.

“In fact, barring the truly unexpected, the Tarrant County legislative candidates’ combined general election expenditures this year will not come close to their combined primary season expenditures of $4 million.”

Here’s a look at money raised by legislative officeholders and candidates in Tarrant County who will be on the ballot in November, according to the most recent state reports.

The reports detail contributions made between January and June for candidates unopposed in the March primary and from late February or early March through June for those who faced challenges in the primary.

Texas Senate

District 12

Nearly half the money banked in local legislative races belongs to state Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, who heads the high-profile Senate Finance Committee. Nelson, whose district includes part of Tarrant County, reported raising $12,000 this year and has more than $1.2 million in cash on hand. Contributions included $2,500 from Charles Butt, CEO of the H-E-B grocery stores; $2,000 from the TravelPAC, a political arm of the Texas Travel Industry Association; and $1,000 from the BEEF PAC, the political arm of the Texas Cattle Feeders Association.

Libertarian challenger Rod Wingo of Fort Worth reported raising no money.

“Incumbents, whether or not they have opponents, run very strong campaigns and often are sending ‘messages’ to any future challengers,” Saxe said.

District 22

State Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, reported raising $25,000 this year and has $421,848 in cash on hand. Donations this year include $2,500 from the GM PAC General Motors Co.; $5,000 from the Texas Restaurant Association PAC; and $1,500 from the WAL PAC Walmart Stores Inc PAC for Responsible Government.

Challenger Michael Collins, a Granbury Democrat, reported raising $970.60 this year and has $78.28 in the bank. He has $1,738.31 in outstanding loans. His largest donation was $300 from the Hood County Democratic GPAC.

Texas House

District 90

State Rep. Ramon Romero Jr., D-Fort Worth, raised $21,700 this year and has $106,316 in the bank. Contributions this year include $10,000 from Jorge Baldor of Dallas; $5,000 from former state Rep. Domingo Garcia’s New American PAC; and $1,000 from Chesapeake Energy for Texas. He has no Republican challenger in November.

District 91

State Rep. Stephanie Klick, R-Fort Worth, raised $8,250 this year and has $50,910 in the bank as well as $27,000 in outstanding loans. Among her donations: $2,500 from the Apartment Association of Tarrant County; $1,500 from Atmos Energy PAC; and $1,000 from the Texas Nurse PAC. She has no Democratic challenger in November.

District 92

State Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford, raised $4,360 this year and has $47,446.81 in cash on hand. Contributions received this year include $1,000 from Tony Pack of Southlake, general manager of Sam Pack Five Star Ford; $1,000 from Lee Chapman of Irving, president of the DFW New Car Dealers Association; and $500 from state Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Plano.

Challenger Kim Leach, a Hurst Democrat, reported raising $3,106 this year. She has $284.42 in the bank. Donations included $500 from Calvin Adkins, a retired engineer in Hurst; $200 from the Northeast Tarrant County Democrats; and $250 from the Ramon Romero Jr. campaign.

Two other challengers — Travis Christal of the Green Party and Libertarian Leah Sees — reported raising no money.

District 93

State Rep. Matt Krause, R-Fort Worth, raised $17,553 this year and has $131,392 in cash on hand. Contributions include $1,000 from the TX Travel Industry Association PAC; $1,000 from the Texas McDonald Operators Assoc. PAC; and $1,000 from Paul Vinyard of Frisco, president of Babe’s Fried Chicken.

Challenger Nancy Bean, an Arlington Democrat, reported raising $7,432 this year and has $4,875 in the bank. She also has $1,787.88 in outstanding loans. Donations include $500 from former state Rep. Lon Burnam, D-Fort Worth; $500 from the Greater Arlington Mansfield Democratic Women; and $250 from the campaign of Ramon Romero Jr.

District 94

State Rep. Tony Tinderholt, R-Arlington, raised $8,640 this year and has $57,869 in the bank. Donations include $5,000 from Middleton D. Mayes, a Houston retiree; $2,000 from state Rep. Scott Turner, R-Rockwall; and $1,000 from Texans for Lawsuit Reform.

Libertarian challenger Jessica Pallett reported raising no money.

District 95

State Rep. Nicole Collier, D-Fort Worth, raised $18,996 this year and has $14,025 in cash on hand. Contributions to her campaign include $2,000 from Hospac-State, the political action committee for the Texas Hospital Association; $2,000 from the Texas Orthopaedic PAC; and $1,500 from the Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC.

Challenger Albert G. McDaniel, a Fort Worth Republican, reported raising $25 this year and has $25 in cash on hand. He also has $1,800 in outstanding loans.

District 96

State Rep. Bill Zedler, R-Arlington, raised $6,960 this year and has more than $55,000 in the bank. Contributions include $2,500 from the Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC; $1,000 from the Texas Chiropractic Association PAC; and $500 from the District 4 Texas Chiropractic Association.

Challenger Sandra D. Lee, a Kennedale Democrat, raised $7,979 this year and has $813.78 in cash on hand. Donations to her campaign include $2,500 from Tim Martinez of Fort Worth, land director of Edge Resources; $500 from the Greater Arlington Mansfield Democratic Women; and $500 from attorney and former state Rep. Domingo Garcia, D-Dallas.

District 97

State Rep. Craig Goldman, R-Fort Worth, raised $16,325 and has $237, 329 in the bank. Contributions include $2,500 from the Apartment Association of Tarrant County; $2,500 from The Chickasaw Nation; and $1,000 from Bobby Cox, president of Bobby Cox Companies.

Challenger Elizabeth Tarrant, a Fort Worth Democrat, raised $780 this year and has $599.74 in the bank. Donations include $250 from Greg Hughes, a Fort Worth engineer; $150 from Texas Latina List of Arlington; and $100 from Susan Spell, a retired Fort Worth nurse.

No report was filed by fellow challenger, Patrick Wentworth, a Libertarian.

District 98

State Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake, raised $42,985 this year and has $2,018 in cash on hand. He has $69,307 in outstanding loans to himself. Among his contributions this year: $5,000 from Trevor Ahlberg of Irving, CEO of Cottonwood Financial; $5,000 from Michael Hernandez of Colleyville, president of D&M Auto Leasing; and $2,500 from The Chickasaw Nation.

Challenger Maricela Sanchez Chibli, a Colleyville Democrat, raised $6,265 this year and has $1,860 in the bank. Donations include $200 from the Northeast Tarrant County Democrats; $200 from Ramon Romero Jr.; and $150 from Texas Latina List.

District 99

State Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth, raised $255,286 this year and has $242,250 in cash on hand. Contributions include $40,000 from Charles Butt, CEO of the H-E-B grocery stores; $10,000 from Richard and Diana Strauss of Dallas, of the Republic Property Group; and $10,000 from the Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC.

Challenger Dan Hawkins, a Libertarian from Blue Mound, reported raising no money.

District 101

State Rep. Chris Turner, D-Grand Prairie, raised $63,473 this year and has $104,704 in the bank. Donations include $5,000 from Larry Jaynes of McGregor, owner of Fashion Glass & Mirror; $5,000 from the Texas Association of Realtors Political Action Committee; and $2,500 from the Chickasaw Nation.

Challenger Carlos “Charlie” Garza, a Grand Prairie Republican, raised $3,500 this year and has $1,362 in cash on hand. Individual contributions were not listed on the most recent report.

“At the present time, most voters are not paying much attention to local level races, but will begin to once October rolls around,” Jones said.

This story was originally published July 31, 2016 at 2:48 PM with the headline "Millions of dollars raked in for some Texas legislative races."