And talk of a primary challenge from Lt. Gov. He also received $1.5 million from billionaire George Soros, who is known for backing liberal candidates. 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. However, the patterns of contributions provide critical information for So although an Abbott campaign news release touted the $19.2 million he raised last year, it was just an 8% increase over the $17.8 million he raised in 2016. The. Slawson and Shaheen each received $150 last year, records show. Earlier, he was a statehouse reporter for three newspapers, including the Dallas Times Herald. 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. O'Rourke's latest haul includes $2 million raised during the first 24 hours of his campaign, collected frommore than 20,000 individual donors. reason, summary numbers are usually higher (and more current) than the numbers based on detailed records. Greg Abbott hauled in nearly $19 million over nine days and boasted an eye-popping $55 million in the bank as he prepares his campaign for a . Unsurprisingly, Gov. contributions from corporate PACs, employees and owners as well as their immediate families. Gov. Rene Cross of the University of Houstons Hobby School of Public Affairs, though, said Abbotts most vulnerable to a test by a younger Democrat such as ORourke or the Castro brothers of San Antonio, Julin and Joaquin. Just before the energy donations poured in for Abbott in June, the power grid operator asked Texans, mid-heat wave, to conserve power and turn their thermostats to 78 degrees for a week in order to reduce electricity demand because significant power generation was unexpectedly offline. More:Greg Abbott campaign promises 'knock-out, drag-out fight' in race against Beto O'Rourke. Campaign finance reports by Abbott, Lt. Gov. Cobos salary is $143,000. Its the same people talking to the same people and you wonder if the people being left out are the average Texans, said Wheat. Kolten Parker is digital executive producer at KSAT. available information, the donor is given an economic code. Abbott's campaign said it received nearly 113,000 contributions and that 86% of the campaign contributions came from within Texas. 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. Robert T. Garrett, Austin Bureau Chief. Greg Abbott and Beto O'Rourke broke fundraising records in their race for Texas governor. 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. Abbott is running for re-election in 2022. First, we apply a code to the contribution, identifying the industry. Patrick, 70, has insisted he wants to stay where he is. ORourke received $2.2 million from Austin couple Simone Coxe, who has worked in communications, and Tench Coxe, a former venture capitalist. I wouldnt count him out., Last fall, Abbott gave money and shared his campaigns detailed voter information database with GOP hopefuls in several of the key Texas House contests. ORourke, who has had significantly less time to fundraise compared to Abbott, reported raising $4.3 million from the beginning of the year to February 19, compared to Abbott, who raised $5.3 million in the same time frame. 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. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has $38M in his campaign bank, but is it enough There was a series of finger-pointing and falsehoods from state elected officials who wouldn't accept responsibility and falsely shifted blame to renewable energy sources as they vowed to fix the grid. Still, ORourke does have a few of his own billionaire supporters. A spokesperson for Paddie did not respond to questions. Texas governor's biggest donors: Energy industry that failed Greg Abbott attacks Beto O'Rourke without mentioning him by name, $2 million raised during the first 24 hours, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Race for Texas governor: Energy industry's campaign contributions During that week, Abbott assured Texans the grid was in better shape than ever. The other organizations on the list include law firms, teachers groups and liberal political action committees. Bank, his wife Matilda lists "Homemaker" and 12-year old Tammy shows up as "Student," OpenSecrets would identify all Texas Ethics Commission records, however, show that three of the 13 representatives on the House Committee on State Affairs have accepted contributions from ERCOT board member Clifton Karnei. Thats significantly more than former Democratic presidential candidate Beto ORourke. According to June polls from the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas, 4 in 5 respondents support background checks on all gun purchases, and just 15% support an abortion ban. Texas Governor Greg Abbott threatened to cut off funding for the legislature after Democrats walked out of the final session to prevent the passage of Abbott's voter integrity bill. From June 21 to June 30, after the legislative fundraising blackout ended, five of the largest and most prominent companies in the Texas power grid supply chain Calpine, Centerpoint, NRG Energy, Oncor and Vistra or their top executives collectively donated about $497,000 to state elected officials and political groups. Those During that time same time period, Abbott's campaign said the two-term governor raised just under $25 million but didn't specify down to the decimal point. 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. Abbott raises $19 million, O'Rourke $7.2 million in race for governor A Crenshaw aide, though, said hes not thinking about running for governor. Showing these clusters of contributions from people associated with particular organizations provides a valuable Cobos was appointed chief executive and public counsel of the Office of Public Utility Counsel (OPUC) by Abbott in March 2019, three months after donating $1,050 to Abbotts campaign, state contribution records show. Democratic gubernatorial challenger Beto O'Rourke raised $27.3 million from Feb. 20 to June 30, while Republican Gov. State requirements related to itemization thresholds and employment Tribune: Texas Leaders Raked in Millions After Electric Grid Collapse However, his $7.7 million haul in the first half of 2020 was a nearly 12% decrease from the same phase of his initial term. Lori Cobos and DeAnn Walker, two Abbott appointees who sit on ERCOTs board due to their respective positions with the state, are listed among the governors lengthy list of political donors. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on members to help keep our stories free and our events open to the public. Totals for industries (and larger economic employer. 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As a Republican and a Texan, Abbott may have received significant campaign contributions from the NRA. 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. After the 2021 regular legislative session, energy industry donations totaling $26,000 for the period made up 88% of Paddies campaign contributions over just the last 10 days of June. Energy Industry Showers Gov. Greg Abbott, Other Texas Politicians - TPR February winter storm: Campaign donations poured in after reform - WFAA 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. However, her son, H. Ross Perot Jr., who is also a billionaire, has given $500,000 to Abbotts campaign. While some of this money. In fact, Abbott's campaign said he has raised $95 million this election season. That far exceeds the $6.8 million in cash on hand that ORourkes committee, Beto For Texas, reported as of the same date. Outgoing Texas GOP Chairman Allen West and former state Senator Don Huffines of Dallas both accused the governor of not being conservative enough. He loves being lieutenant governor and is not running against Gov. We dont take anything for granted, he said. based on summary reports filed by the candidates with the Federal Election Commission. Abbott raises $19 million, Beto O'Rourke's fast start nets $7.2 million in race for governor. Despite corporations statements this week that theyre suspending contributions to Republicans, Im not worried about how its going to affect the governors fundraising, Carney said. Greg Abbott and Beto O'Rourke broke fundraising - The Texas Tribune website. In Texas, Gov. Nearly half (45%) of the 1,200 Texas voters who participated in the poll indicated support for Abbott while 39% showed support for O'Rourke. Energy Tycoon Kelcy Warren's Gave $1 Million to Greg Abbott A contribution to a candidate may be given an ORourkes Powered by People PAC gave $1.7 million to his own campaign. Greg Abbott's 2022 reelection campaign is reporting contributions of 19-million-dollars in the last nine days of June. Abbott, who has held a commanding lead in cash on hand during the race, touts $46 million in his campaign coffers. A spokesperson for Oncor said the company believes in actively participating in the political process. CenterPoint said: In this case, CenterPoint Energy Political Action Committee made public contributions to support members of the Texas Legislature who had announced their intention to run for re-election, regardless of party affiliation. A Calpine representative said its CEO, who made up the bulk of contributions tied to the company, donated money as he develops relationships with these members directly. The other two companies did not respond to requests for comment. A spokesperson for Abbott told the Defenders via email, Governor Abbott has made the reform of ERCOT an emergency item and has assured the public we will not leave this session without reforming the entity.. He is an amateur triathlete, enjoys playing and watching soccer, traveling and hanging out with his wife. Together, we will make sure that Texas remains the best state to live, work, and raise a family. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Spent $5.3 Million On Reelection Inauguration Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. state officeholders may be subject to longer time lags, as OpenSecrets aggregates this information from many sources GOP accepted millions from oil and gas ahead of Texas primary While (Gov. The state of Texas imposes no limits on how much money you can give to your local representative, your senator, your governor, said Wheat. Dan Patricks Senate. assigned to all non-wage earning family members. 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. Dan Patrick, after coming within 5 percentage points of the incumbent in 2018. These are the latest numbers ahead of Election Day. Carney said Abbott spent $6.1 million to help down-ballot Republicans. the first of the month. Abbott signed into law last year an abortion ban excepting cases when the life of a pregnant patientis in danger that takes effect later this summer. 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. Democrats have not won a statewide office in three decades, but incumbent Republican Ken Paxton is deemed vulnerable because of his2015 felony indictment for securities fraudand unrelated accusations of corruption that his top aides took to the FBIin late 2020. Gov. Where available, OpenSecrets uses that employer/occupation information to identify the donor's economic interest. While former Gov. Other ERCOT board members are listed in TEC records as having contributed to several energy-related PACs. Find a complete list of them here. King, Slawson and Shaheen did not respond to calls and emails seeking comment for this story. 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. According to its website, OPUC represents the interests of residential and small commercial consumers, as a class, in utility proceedings in Texas. Beto O'Rourke out-raises Greg Abbott in campaign contributions - MSN 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. Sometimes it's hard to make apple-to-apple comparisons across some of the pages in a candidate's profile. Loans are included in most of the elements, except for the top donor tables. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on members to help keep our stories free and our events open to the public. In 2021, the Abbott campaign had out-raised the O'Rourke campaign since the start of their respective campaigns. Both are from Dallas. voters, researchers and others. ORourke, who only launched his campaign for governor in November last year, has raised just $61,000 from at least 2 billionaires and 3 spouses of billionaires. Gas producers got a pass by Texas policymakers, said Michael Webber, professor of energy resources at the University of Texas at Austin. with that same employer, the organization's name winds up on the Top Contributors list. Abbott hasnt detailed what he wants the Republican-controlled Legislature, which convened Tuesday, to accomplish this year. Final fundraising figures show that both gubernatorial candidates raised a combined $160 million in the November midterm election. Feel free to distribute or cite this material, but please credit OpenSecrets. Of the donors, O'Rourke's campaign said 98% of the donations were received online and that teachers contributed more than any other occupation. The Bush familys origin story in Texas revolves around oil and gas, and money from the industry has funded much of the familys political fortunes in the state ever since they arrived in West Texas. OpenSecrets updates federal figures for "Total Raised and Spent" and for "PAC/Individual Split" a few days after Abbott's Chart-Topping Donors for 2020 - Transparency USA 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. Since then, ORourke received four major fundraising bumps: one right after the primary election; one after he confronted Abbott at a press conference following the school shooting in Uvalde in late May; one after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade in late June; and one at the end of September, a couple of weeks ahead of the voter registration deadline. Abbott has run a similar playbook as Perry and has taken it to a different level, Rottinghaus said. This past Valentine's Day, Texas Senator Drew Springer filed HB 923, delivering . We are going to defeat him and ensure Texas finally leads in great jobs, world-class schools, the ability to see a doctor, keeping our kids safe and restoring a womans freedom to make her own decisions about her own body.. Absent that storm, his contributions would have been different, said Bill Miller, a longtime Texas political consultant and lobbyist. But that wasnt always the case: In June 2021, Abbott had a campaign balance of over $55 million, and Abbott has spent almost twice as much money as his opponent, including a June ad buy worth nearly $20 million. Is Dallas becoming unaffordable due to rising housing costs, inflation and stagnating pay? The Legislature ultimately passed a bill shepherded by Paddie in the House and state Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, in the Senate that requires power generation companies to prepare to withstand extreme weather conditions. A Schwertner spokesperson did not respond to questions for this story. Abbott candidate committee made to another committee affiliated with the governor. The data presented here is sourced from the Texas Ethics Commission, which displays campaign finance filings from candidate committees. Donors who give more than $200 to any federal candidate, PAC or party committee must list their occupation and Florida Gov. Just 6%, or $1,141, of his overall campaign contributions in the brief June fundraising period after the 2015 legislative session came from the energy industry. Other billionaires with major oil and gas interests who are backing Abbott include Nancy Kinder, the wife of Kinder Morgan cofounder Richard Kinder; Hilcorp cofounder Jeff Hildebrand; Chief Oil & Gas founder Trevor Rees-Jones; Hunt Oil heir Ray Lee Hunt and Western Refining founder Paul Foster, who Abbott appointed to run the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission in April last year. why: Summary numbers for federal officeholders - specifically "Total Raised and Spent" and "PAC/Individual Split" - are Greg Abbott and Republicans Count on NRA Donations - Market Realist Abbott is tending to home state business, he noted. I just dont know whos out there who would be able to dethrone an incumbent assuming that COVID improves, the economy does well and Abbott doesnt step his foot into something, Eshbaugh-Soha said. Critics said this and other storm response bills spearheaded by these lawmakers also failed to provide direct assistance to people harmed by Februarys power crisis or to help Texans reduce electricity use to take pressure off the grid during extreme weather. Texas Gov. Small donors make up almost half of the total amount ORourke raised. Heading into the 2022 campaign season, Gov. The fifth payee, listed as Greg Abbott, represents reported expenditures a Gov. His campaign accepted more than $12 million in political contributions from oil and gas companies and executives this election cycle. 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. Those donations included $1 million from Warren, cofounder of a pipeline company that made $2.4 billion from the winter storm, according to a report from Bloomberg. Copyright 2021 by KSAT - All rights reserved. Abbott so far has two challengers in the Republican primary. Usually, state candidates in Texas get the majority of their donations from Texans. Breaking down the contributions by ZIP code in Texas, ORourke received more money from donors in major cities, which are Democratic strongholds. In addition, the top ZIP codes for both candidates are often those where political action committees are based. Warren has given Abbott $250,000 donations almost every year since he won the governors office in 2014. Dan Patrick received millions in contributions from the energy industry, a new Texas Tribune report shows. ABBOTT, GREG - FollowTheMoney.org Energy Industry Showers Abbott, Other Texas Politicians With Campaign Abbotts a prolific fundraiser, a weapon hes wielded to discourage competition as he moved up among Texas Republicans over the past two decades. This is up from 19% after the 2019 session. Open Secrets following the money in politics, OpenSecrets Following the money in politics, Why (and How) We Use Donors' Employer/Occupation Information, Organization unavailable for these records. Because Texas doesnt have limits on contribution amounts, rich and powerful people can cut massive checks to campaigns. Still, in the 2019 legislative session, Abbott successfully appealed to GOP leaders and lawmakers to tend to bread-and-butter issues such as improving public schools and lowering property taxes. Perhaps it goes without saying but producing quality journalism isn't cheap. 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 . DC may affect those organizations or their industries. A Texas Politics Project July poll indicates the race for Texas governor is tightening. Last Christmas, Governor Greg Abbott bussed and dumped migrant families in the freezing cold in Washington, D.C. We do this in two ways: It is impossible to know either the economic interest that made each individual contribution possible or the parties and political committees request employer information from contributors and publicly report it when the Greg Abbott has $38M in his campaign bank, but is it enough to scare off 2022 challengers? In late June, it announced an $8.15 million digital media advertising buy, $8.8 million for TV and radio ads, and $2.75 million for Spanish media ads across platforms. How many donations came from within Texas? Texans deserve answers about why these shortfalls occurred and how they are going to be corrected, and Texans will get those answers.. 20005. Therell be a general election opponent, and [Democrats] will put a lot of effort in and theyll raise a lot of money.. FEC and listed quickly on OpenSecrets processing and analyzing the detailed records takes much longer. While summary numbers are reported almost immediately by the Home - FollowTheMoney.org 2022 campaign contributions: Who's backing Texas political candidates Governor Patrick, who moved immediately following the February storm to call for the resignations of both the PUC board and ERCOT, both of which were fully reformed through Senate Bills 2 and 3.. Abbott.. Under federal law, all contributions over $200 must be itemized and the donor's occupation and employer must be
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