governor abbott campaign contributions governor abbott campaign contributions

Were receiving support from those in every part of this state who are ready to hold Greg Abbott fully accountable for eight years of failing all of us as he continues to put his extreme agenda over the people of Texas. Gov. Greg Abbott raised almost $25 million during the same period, according to Friday press releases from both of the campaigns. The top California donors in the Texas governor's race, How the biggest Republican stronghold in Texas could cost Gov. Abbott's campaign said his roughly $25 million in donations from the most recent filing period came from nearly 45,000 contributors, which is 1/10th of the number of donors reported by his challenger over the same time period. Greg Abbott's 2022 reelection campaign is reporting contributions of 19-million-dollars in the last nine days of June. Oil and gas executives S. Javaid Anwar and Gary Martin, in particular, have been regular contributors to Abbott for years. As Gov. More than a quarter of Hancocks contributions in June came from energy interests, about $53,500 the most he has ever received in a post-legislative session period. His chemical logistics company serves the oil and gas industry, among others. sectors) can be seen in each candidate and race profile, and in the Industry Profile section of the OpenSecrets Heading into the 2022 campaign season, Gov. The organizations that donated the most money to Abbott this reporting period have previously given to the governor. Democrat Beto O'Rourke announced he's running for governor of Texas and says he'll move past divisive politics and bring the state together. "As we move into the heat of the summer campaign, were well positioned to fund all our campaign efforts, Texans for Greg Abbott Campaign Chairman Gardner Pate said in the Friday release. With Democrat Joe Biden about to move into the White House and national Republicans in disarray over President Donald Trumps norm-shattering behavior in recent weeks, a big bankroll is about the only certainty Abbott can rely on. More: Ahead of primary, Gov. Knowing those groups is also based on summary reports filed by the candidates with the Federal Election Commission. During the same stretch after the two subsequent . As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on members to help keep our stories free and our events open to the public. Heres how they compare. A report from Texans for Public Justice released this week found that Abbott raised more than $87 million in campaign contributions from the start of 2017 through the end of last year. Greg Abbott urges letting the vote counting play out in Trump-Biden race, How a Joe Biden win isnt necessarily bad news for Texas Gov. Other ERCOT board members are listed in TEC records as having contributed to several energy-related PACs. Of the donors, O'Rourke's campaign said 98% of the donations were received online and that teachers contributed more than any other occupation. You may opt-out by, Source of wealth: Houston Rockets, entertainment, Source of wealth: Computer services, real estate, Source of wealth: Hyatt hotels, investments. Both candidates have received more campaign cash from ZIP codes where wealthier people live because thats who tends to give money to politicians on both sides of the aisle. On Friday, Texans for Greg Abbott announced in a press release the governor raised nearly $25 . Carney also said that while O'Rourke focuses on abortion rights and restricting assault-style weapons, Abbott would continue to emphasize economic issues, including the high inflation rate. Texas Gov. All rights reserved. In November, Republicans held their 83-67 majority in the Texas House, despite organizing efforts by ORourkes Powered by People group and millions of dollars in TV ads bought by national Democratic super PACs. Together, we will make sure that Texas remains the best state to live, work, and raise a family. Other lawmakers who saw some of the largest spikes in funding from the energy industry were those who authored the power grid legislation and chaired the committees that heard the bills. Sign up for our newsletter to track moneys influence on U.S. elections and public policy. Here is how fundraising by Texas Gov. Although individual contributions are generally categorized based on the donor's occupation/employer, in some cases Gas producers got a pass by Texas policymakers, said Michael Webber, professor of energy resources at the University of Texas at Austin. The tour, which starts in O'Rourke's hometown of El Paso has scheduled 70 public events in 65 counties, including in many areas that historically have preferred Republican candidates. Greg Abbott campaign promises 'knock-out, drag-out fight' in race against Beto O'Rourke, according to January campaign finance reports, Governor's race tightens as Greg Abbott's lead over Beto O'Rourke shrinks to 6 points, poll finds, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. The PUC has largely avoided blame for last weeks power issues, so far, despite providing oversight to ERCOT. The Past 30 Days column represents the last 30 days of donations, starting with the date of the most recent contribution for that race. Here are the billionaire donors to Republican Greg Abbott and Democrat Beto ORourkes campaigns since January 2021, according to the latest Texas campaign finance filings. Republican incumbent Greg Abbott, who is seeking his third term in office, has reported huge fundraising hauls in the past, amassing staggering amounts of cash in his campaign coffers. If, for instance, Henry Jones lists his employer as First National For permission to reprint for commercial uses, A Crenshaw aide, though, said hes not thinking about running for governor. In the Republican primary, Abbott is facing former state Sen. Don Huffines, former Texas GOP Chairman Allen West, Chad Prather,Danny Harrison, Kandy Kaye Horn, Paul Belew and Rick Perry (no, not that Rick Perry). FEC and listed quickly on OpenSecrets processing and analyzing the detailed records takes much longer. Democrat Rochelle Garza, a former attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union, has struggled to fundraise at the levels needed to take on the well-funded and well-known incumbent. parties and political committees request employer information from contributors and publicly report it when the As of February 19, Abbotts committee reported that it had about $50 million in cash on hand. ORourke received $2.2 million from Austin couple Simone Coxe, who has worked in communications, and Tench Coxe, a former venture capitalist. Second, we standardize the name of the donor's employer. in the DFW area that need your help or can provide help during Greg Abbott continued his legislative push for "parental empowerment" in Austin on Wednesday while also expressing support for a bill meant to keep local . In addition, the top ZIP codes for both candidates are often those where political action committees are based. In the final half of 2020, Abbott collected contributions from 22,598 donors, 10,116 of whom were new, his campaign announced Wednesday. Breaking down the contributions by ZIP code in Texas, ORourke received more money from donors in major cities, which are Democratic strongholds. As he preps for 2022, Abbott may steal a page from U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, who last year tried to hold on to fervent Trump supporters while appealing to more moderate swing voters in the suburbs. He said the latest contributions of $25 million came from nearly 475,000 donors, making the average contribution $53. Small donors make up almost half of the total amount ORourke raised. At a time when newsroom resources and revenue across the country are declining, The Texas Tribune remains committed to sustaining our mission: creating a more engaged and informed Texas with every story we cover, every event we convene and every newsletter we send. But an analysis of state campaign finance records by the KSAT 12 Defenders shows three current members of ERCOTs board have contributed thousands to Abbotts campaigns, with some of the funds dating back to his days as Texas Attorney General. Gov. Texas has no limits on campaign contributions. Abbotts biggest individual donors have always come from the energy industry, and this time is no exception, with energy tycoons making up 40% of his top 10 donors. Abbott, who has held a commanding lead in cash on hand during the race, touts $46 million in his campaign coffers. Patrick spokeswoman Sherry Sylvester said: No one has been tougher on the energy sector and more proactive for ratepayers this session than Lt. their contributions as being related to the "First National Bank" since that's the source of the family's income. Texas governor election: Beto O'Rourke looks to put Greg Abbott on defense in early stages of Texas governor's race. Carney, the Abbott adviser, dismissed talk that ORourke could pose a threat. The approach was a response to Democratic success in the 2018 midterms. 2023 www.statesman.com. the Coronavirus crisis. A lot of things can happen. Just over 40% of the sum of ORourkes donations came from out-of-state donors, compared with 17% of Abbotts. Greg Abbott, who is heading into a re-election year. Those Oil grew to become the states signature industry, rich oilmen and companies started showering politicians with money and a romance blossomed. Florida Gov. Greg Abbott said his campaign raised nearly $19 million in the last six months of 2021, a total that brought his campaign war chest to a staggering $65 million in December. contributions from corporate PACs, employees and owners as well as their immediate families. For a time, there was buzz about Shelley Luther, who catapulted to fame for reopening her Dallas hair salon in defiance of COVID-19 restrictions. O'Rourke's campaign said he got over 115,600 contributions over the 46-day period, while Abbott's team said. ORourkes Powered by People PAC gave $1.7 million to his own campaign. Texans for Public Justice released this week, A bill proposed by San Antonio Republican state Rep. Lyle Larson in 2017. Greg Abbott speaks at a press conference regarding Texas emergency response to an unprecedented winter storm gripping Texas on Feb. 13, 2021. shifted blame to renewable energy sources, significant power generation was unexpectedly offline, Abbott assured Texans the grid was in better shape than ever. However, Democratic challenger Beto ORourke reported raising $27.6 million from late February through June, which is the most a candidate for state office in Texas has ever raised in a single reporting period. He has attacked the city of Austin repeatedly for reducing its police budget and repealing a ban on camping in public spaces that had generated thousands of citations to homeless people in the past. Hancock also has ties to the energy industry in his full-time job as a business owner. Find a complete list of them here. Unsurprisingly, Gov. Texas Gov. And talk of a primary challenge from Lt. Gov. Over that same short stretch in June, 11 prominent oil industry leaders, including billionaires Kelcy Warren, S. Javaid Anwar and Douglas Scharbauer all three whom could not be reached for comment combined to contribute about $3.2 million to Texas elected officials, up from about $2.2 million over the same period following the previous legislative session in 2019. Greg Abbott attacks Beto O'Rourke without mentioning him by name. The data is made public by the Texas Ethics Commission. Learn more about our work here. Im grateful for everyone who helped raise $25.18 million in just three months as we support the work of our organizers and record-breaking 100,000 volunteers, said ORourke. corporations and unions can give directly to campaigns in many jurisdictions. Ballotpedia is the digital encyclopedia of American politics and elections. Connect with needs and opportunities from. In April, Abbott had been ahead of O'Rourke by 11 points. Political strife: The Texas Legislatures toughest 2021 challenges, A day after powerful thunderstorms, North Texas surveys the damage, 3 children killed, 2 wounded at Ellis County home; suspect in custody, How a Texas districts reaction to school shooting fears highlights discipline concerns, Carrollton man advertised pills on social media to entice teens to buy fentanyl, feds say. During that week, Abbott assured Texans the grid was in better shape than ever. Cobos salary is $143,000. Separate from discussion of the virus outbreak, some have wondered whether Houston-area GOP congressman Dan Crenshaw, whos seen nationally as a Republican comer, might jump into a race against Abbott. To request permission for commercial use, please contactus. In addition, cryptocurrency CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, who gave ORourke $1 million, is under investigation for breaking the states securities law. All told, the candidates together have raised a combined $147 million, have spent almost $196 million and have a combined total of almost $8 million in their campaign coffers. At the state level, individuals may be classified instead as ideological donors. His team called the haul a "record-breaking amount" and said "no Democratic campaign in the states history has raised more money during the opening days of their race.". Texas elected officials cant receive campaign donations during the session, but after it ended in May, they were showered in cash by the energy industry even more than usual for a group known for its deep pockets and generous campaign giving. Last year, Abbott wouldve raised more if hed been able to hold in-person fundraisers and hadnt been busy as chairman of the Republican Governors Association, Carney said. Had the bill passed, Walker would not be running the PUC. Gov. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribunes journalism. Paddie was among a chorus of elected officials from the governor on down demanding answers and solutions for why Texas grid was on the brink of total collapse in February. The comments came during an appearance on Fox News. Wed love to run against him, he said of ORourke, a former El Paso congressman who gave U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz a scare in 2018. why: Summary numbers for federal officeholders - specifically "Total Raised and Spent" and "PAC/Individual Split" - are The leading two candidates for Texas governor each pulled in about $25 million in campaign contributions during the summer, with a slight edge going to Democratic challenger Beto O'Rourke who reported 10 times as many donors. Texas Gov. may affect those organizations or their industries. OpenSecrets aggregates state data from many sources and formats. Dan Patrick, she lost a special election for state Senate last month, Greg Abbott confronts coronavirus as stronger governor than Texas had 50 years ago, even with federal fundraising constraints, Crenshaw in the last two-year cycle raised a whopping $19 million, Dark alley no more: This time, Texas Republicans were ready for the Democrats, Pandemic. The O'Rourke campaign has not yet released how much cash on hand it has. sparring with one Abbott-appointed regulator on the senate floor. We shouldnt be sure that theres going to be significant reform and regular citizens have to be pressuring their lawmakers, pressuring their state officials so that our voice gets heard as well as those people who are essentially wining and dining and giving money to the politicians, said Wheat, who added that the contributions are likely small compared to those some politicians receive from energy executives and energy-backed PACs. In January, fracking billionaire Farris Wilks, who gained national attention when he poured $15 million into backing Ted Cruzs 2016 presidential bid, gave $2 million to a PAC called Defend Texas Liberty that donated $1 million to the campaign of Don Huffines, another candidate running in the Republican primary who is considered a long shot to win. OpenSecrets A 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, charitable organization 1100 13th Street, NW, Suite 800 Washington, DC 20005 (202) 857-0044 INFO: info@crp.org If enough contributions came in from people connected Warren's company Energy Transfer declined to comment on his behalf. Patrick is in the middle of a131-stop bus tour across Texas, while Collier continues totout his alliances with moderateRepublicans who are endorsing him over the incumbent. State Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills, who led much of the upper chambers response to the storm that left millions of Texans without electricity for days in subfreezing temperatures, also got a boost in funding. O'Rourke's campaign reported Tuesday having raised $25.18 million over the most recent reporting period from July 1 through Sept. 29. Data for Texas Governor Greg Abbott's 2019 reelection inaugural was a 2-day event that included balls, candlelight dinners, barbecues and other VIP events -- costing some $5.3 million for the celebrations. After the Defenders reached out to Cobos seeking comment Tuesday, Jon Oliver, an OPUC spokesperson, called back and said he was unaware of any campaign contributions made to Abbott. Greg Abbott raised $11.5 million from July through December, and now can brandish almost $38 million of cash as he tries to scare off opponents in his campaign for a third term next year. That's four times more. The power grid was not included. The O'Rourke campaign said nearly all of the more than 511,000 contributions to the campaign, at an average of $54, came from online donors and that teachers contributed more than people from any other occupation. Texans deserve answers about why these shortfalls occurred and how they are going to be corrected, and Texans will get those answers.. Greg Abbott hauled in nearly $19 million over the last nine days of June and boasted an eye-popping $55 million in the bank as he prepares to . However, her son, H. Ross Perot Jr., who is also a billionaire, has given $500,000 to Abbotts campaign. This means that overall, Abbotts Texas donors gave more than ORourkes Texas donors. Kolten Parker, Digital Executive Producer. Power companies were in the hot seat, as millions of Texans who endured a week of subfreezing temperatures with no power demanded sweeping, multibillion dollar improvements to prevent another deadly disaster and lawmakers promised action. Referring to gun control stands by ORourke and the possibility the Texas Democrat could return to Washington, Carney said, Being Biden administration gun czar is not the best credential to use to run for anything in Texas.. As Texas voters go to the polls next week, it is clear which candidate billionaires are backing in the . Greg Abbott speaks during a campaign event on February 23 in Houston. The former El Paso congressman and presidential candidate is trying to become the first Democrat in nearly 30 years to win statewide office in Texas and to be the state's first Democratic governor since Ann Richards (1991-1995). Abbott had $55 million saved up for his reelection campaign at the end of June. A bill proposed by San Antonio Republican state Rep. Lyle Larson in 2017 would have prohibited the governor from appointing a political donor to a position if he or she had contributed more than $2,500 in a year.