The recently published campaign finance reports shed light on the significant influence that donations can have on political races throughout the state.
The race for U.S. Senate is experiencing unprecedented levels of spending, surpassing previous records set in 2018. Moreover, both Democrats and Republicans are actively seeking to secure seats in the Texas state House during the upcoming November elections.
Colin Allred, the Democratic candidate for Senate, achieved an impressive feat by raising more than $30 million in the third quarter of the Federal Election Commission.
This amount surpasses the fundraising efforts of his opponent, Republican incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz, by a significant margin of over $9 million.
Allred’s campaign has shown tremendous support and financial backing, highlighting the strong momentum he has gained in his bid for the Senate seat.
During the period from July 1 to September 30, Cruz’s campaign reported raising more than $21 million, while Allred’s campaign raised an impressive $30.3 million.
Campaign finance reports reveal substantial fundraising activities associated with specific state house districts. The Texas House currently has 86 out of 150 seats held by Republicans, and the party is actively pursuing additional gains.
Republicans are eyeing the opportunity to win over House District 74, stretching from Eagle Pass to El Paso, according to Jasper Scherer, a politics reporter at the Texas Tribune.
The seat is currently held by Democrat Eddie Morales, Jr., and was previously considered a Democratic stronghold. However, Scherer pointed out that Republicans had a more robust performance in the district during the 2020 elections.
According to Scherer, it appears that Greg Abbott and some Republicans are seizing an opportunity to challenge his position.
Democrats are also hoping to make progress in districts that leaned towards Beto O’Rourke in the 2022 race for governor and for Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. Scherer pointed out that they are particularly focusing on races in South Texas, including some in San Antonio and Dallas.
According to Scherer, Democrats are setting their sights on the seats of the only remaining Republicans in the state House in Dallas County, namely Morgan Meyer and Angie Chen Button.
According to Scherer, State Rep. John Lujan in San Antonio is seen as a more favorable choice for them. He mentioned that Kristian Carranza, a Democratic organizer and political operative, is running against John Lujan and has been able to raise substantial amounts of money, making her a competitive candidate.
In addition to the campaigns themselves raising funds, there are also Political Action Committees (PACs) that are contributing to support or oppose the candidates. As per the Federal Election Commission, a total of 19 PACs have been investing in this race since January 2023.
According to data from the FEC, there are 10 PACs currently investing funds to support Cruz, while two are working against him. The Truth and Courage PAC stands out as the highest spender on both candidates, allocating resources to endorse Cruz and oppose Allred.
The PAC, aiming to secure Cruz’s reelection, has raised more than $8 million between January 2023 and August 2024. According to the FEC, they have utilized roughly half of that amount by the end of August 2024. In an effort to bolster Cruz’s campaign, the PAC has launched advertising campaigns.
The Truth and Courage PAC acknowledges on their website that Cruz faced a significant financial disadvantage compared to his Democratic opponent O’Rourke in the 2018 election. Their objective is to bridge this fundraising gap.
Since January 2023, Truth and Courage has invested more than $840 thousand in supporting Cruz and over $530 thousand in opposing Allred. It stands as one of the four PACs that have reported expenditures aimed at countering Allred to the FEC.
According to FEC data, Allred has received significant support from the End Citizens United PAC, which is one of the seven PACs that have been actively spending to support him since January 2023.
End Citizens United is committed to removing the influence of money in politics and safeguarding the right to vote. Since January 2023, the PAC has invested approximately $53,000 to support Allred.
In a press release issued in February, Allred’s campaign proudly announced that the End Citizens United // Let America Vote Action Fund had awarded him an outstanding A+ rating on their legislative scorecard. Recognizing his dedication to their cause, the PAC endorsed Allred’s candidacy for Senate in June 2023.
During his campaign to unseat Cruz in 2017 and 2018, O’Rourke managed to raise an impressive $80 million. In the subsequent election, O’Rourke secured 48% of the vote, while Cruz, who raised over $35 million during the same period, emerged as the victor with 51% of the vote, despite being outspent.
Texas auto dealers raise concern about new paper tag law
This Article Includes
More than a year has passed since Texas lawmakers enacted a bill to phase out paper license plates, a move prompted by the prevalent and widespread fraud occurring nationwide. Now, a trade association representing over 1,200 franchised car dealerships is expressing fresh concerns to lawmakers.
Law enforcement officials are expressing concerns that industry groups are attempting to weaken the law even before it comes into effect.
During a House Transportation Committee hearing on Thursday, Karen Phillips, the Executive Vice President of the Texas Automobile Dealers Association, emphasized the importance of assessing whether progress has been made or if we have regressed on these issues.
The TADA is urging lawmakers to reconsider House Bill 718, which was unanimously passed in 2023 and is scheduled to go into effect on July 1, 2025. The new law aims to replace temporary paper tags with metal ones. However, Phillips has raised concerns about the vulnerability of metal license plates to counterfeiting.
She expressed her concern about the transition from a fraudulent temporary tag to a fraudulent metal tag. 0According to Phillips, fraudulent metal tags are expected to become widespread due to the elimination of temporary tags.
Her remarks were praised by Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg, the committee chair, who described them as “spot on.” “We are constantly striving to stay ahead of the criminals,” Canales remarked. “They always manage to find a more effective method. Therefore, I am uncertain if a metal tag would provide any significant improvement.”
Sergeant Jose Escribano, from the Travis County Constable’s Office Pct. 3, also provided testimony at the hearing. He expressed feeling “nervous” about the potential outcomes of HB 718 and acknowledged that TADA’s concerns were unfamiliar to him.
He asked, “Where were you a year-and-a-half ago?” Canales requested a meeting with Escribano and Phillips to address the issue of counterfeiting and develop a solution to present to the committee.
Escribano, a seasoned investigator, has been actively researching paper tag fraud across the state for several years. Regarded as a top-notch expert in the field, he points out that while metal tag fraud is not a new phenomenon, it is relatively easier to identify compared to paper plate fraud.
The reason behind this is that paper tags can be registered to any individual and linked to any address, effectively transforming getaway vehicles into what he refers to as “ghost cars.”
According to Escribano, there is a significant distinction between a paper tag and a metal tag. He explains that a paper tag is nothing more than a piece of paper, while a metal tag requires more effort to obtain and is easily detectable. Escribano further adds that they can simply run a metal tag to determine its authenticity.
The Texas Department of Public Safety has reported that counterfeit paper tags have been involved in various crimes, including human smuggling and armed robberies.
Phillips expressed her concerns regarding the effectiveness of the new law in addressing Texas’ tag fraud problem. However, she declined KXAN’s interview request following the hearing, despite previously emphasizing the need to raise public awareness on the issue.
Escribano questioned the proposal to retain paper tags, pointing out that it was not a recent discovery and that the conversation could have taken place long ago.
KXAN inquired whether he considered this as a last-ditch effort to reverse the law.
According to Escribano, it definitely seems like a ‘Hail Mary’ move. The timing of bringing this up now, instead of earlier, raises some concerns for me.
The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles is currently in the final stages of developing a rule to implement the law. According to TxDMV Deputy Executive Director Roland Luna Sr., the rule will be presented to the board later this month. The upcoming board meeting is scheduled for October 24th.
Currently, the TxDMV is engaged in various activities.
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- Working with a third-party vendor to distribute metal plates to the 22,000 dealers in the state.
- Leveraging technology with a new inventory management system that will allow car dealers to receive, track and know what’s in their inventory. It will also allow the TxDMV to make sure dealers are compliant.
- Working with DPS to make sure the new plates are secure with hidden “indicators” known to law enforcement to prevent counterfeiting.
- Putting together online training seminars.
According to Luna, the agency is collaborating with dealers to ensure that the transition to metal plates is smooth and does not hinder business and commerce in Texas.
As part of the 2024-2025 budget, the legislature has allocated $35 million to the TxDMV for the implementation and enforcement of HB 718.
Ken Paxton’s evasive relationship with the media
In an unprecedented move, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton convened a press conference 506 days ago.
This event was significant not only because it aimed to preempt his imminent impeachment, but also because Paxton has rarely made himself available to journalists, much like the rarity of statewide officials being impeached by the Texas House in recent years.
He did not entertain any questions.
During the extended period in which the public has been denied access to the state’s top attorney, KXAN has made numerous press inquiries to Paxton’s office.
However, not a single one of these inquiries has received a response since September 2023. This represents a troubling trend of evasion on Paxton’s part, as he has consistently ignored these inquiries and evaded accountability from the press.
According to Donnis Baggett, the Texas Press Association’s representative, information is vital for a functioning democracy.
However, he expressed concern over the growing trend of officials controlling the flow of information and limiting their exposure to questioning. Baggett believes that this one-way street approach is detrimental to a healthy relationship between the government and the public.
The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) website displays a record of more than 200 press releases published by Paxton’s communications staff since October 2023. These press releases consistently provide a media contact email; however, it has been observed that this email serves as a unidirectional means of communication.
According to email data obtained by Nexstar through the Texas Public Information Act, it appears that Paxton’s press team has an exceptionally low rate of responding to inquiries from journalists.
Between March and September, the Attorney General’s Office received a total of 2,722 emails through their designated email address, “communications@oag.texas.gov”.
This email account serves as the primary point of contact for press inquiries and is the sole means of reaching their press office as per their public information. However, during this period, only eight emails were sent from this account, resulting in a sent-to-received ratio of a mere 0.003%.
The response rate for individual press staffers is notably low. In the given period, Communications Director Paige Willey received a total of 3,470 emails and sent out only 907 emails, indicating a press response rate of less than 26%.
Similarly, lead press secretary Jonathan Richie received 2,112 emails but only sent 197 emails in response, reflecting a response rate of less than 9%.
The numbers indicate a noticeable disconnect between the attorney general and the press, which is a sentiment echoed by journalists in Texas newsrooms. It seems that the attorney general has shown little inclination to engage with the traditional press or, by extension, the people he serves.
According to Michael Schneider, Vice President of the Texas Association of Broadcasters, it is crucial for every tax dollar to be transparent.
He believes that if tax dollars are being used to sue a local government agency in Texas, it is essential to know the details of the case, including the reasoning behind the suit and the amount of money being spent on it. Transparency is key when it comes to using public funds for legal matters.
“We deserve transparency in how our money is being used and the rationale behind enacted policies,” Schneider emphasized. “It is crucial that we choose our elected officials wisely, ensuring that they are accountable and responsive to the needs of the public.”
Paxton’s defense attorney provided insights into the attorney general’s interaction with the media.
Attorney Mitch Little, who has known and represented Ken Paxton for the past decade, offers insight into the impact of the constant media coverage surrounding the securities fraud charges against Paxton.
Little asks readers to imagine a scenario where every time they open a newspaper, phone, or website, they see headlines linking Paxton’s name to the indictment.
This prolonged negative association has undoubtedly affected Paxton’s reputation and public perception. Little’s defense of Paxton against these charges and his subsequent victory in the Republican nomination for Texas House District 65 further highlights the resilience and strength of their professional relationship.
According to experienced journalists like Baggett, the press bears some responsibility in improving its relationship with elected officials.
“The media has a responsibility to prioritize the public’s interest, followed by the interests of those in government, and then their own. It is crucial for journalists to strive for fairness, balance, and equality in their reporting.
Unfortunately, this is not always the case, and when there are clear examples of bias, it only serves to deepen the divide. It fuels defensiveness, suspicion, and ultimately hinders the healing process in a country already grappling with a lack of trust.”
Nexstar reached out to Paxton’s office last Tuesday to seek clarification on how his press team determines the criteria for responding to press inquiries and whether they have a journalist “blacklist,” as his former employees testified during his impeachment trial. Nexstar did not receive any response.
Texas lawmaker wants ‘clean water’ right added to state constitution
Texas lawmakers are actively supporting the movement to incorporate a fresh “green amendment” into the state constitution. State Representative Vikki Goodwin (D) highlights that this initiative seeks to safeguard individuals’ entitlement to essential elements like clean air, clean water, healthy soil, and diverse fauna.
Rep. Goodwin is hosting a town hall on October 17 to discuss the Green Amendment and advocate for its inclusion in the Texas Constitution.
“It’s a surprisingly brief amendment,” stated Representative Goodwin. She put forth the amendment in the prior legislative session of 2023. Unfortunately, the joint resolution did not receive a hearing.”
According to van Rossum, the strategic placement of the bill of rights and the thoughtful selection of language in it serve to elevate environmental rights.
The language used in these amendments is straightforward and easy to understand. Let’s take a look at the specific wording of the first proposed Texas Amendment:
Sec. 36. (a) The public, individually and collectively, has the right to a clean and healthy environment, including clean water, clean air, healthy soil, and diverse and abundant native
flora and fauna, and to the preservation of the natural, cultural, scenic, recreational, and healthful qualities of the environment.The right to a clean and healthy environment is inherent, inalienable, indefeasible, and equal with other protected inalienable rights of liberty reserved to the public. The state shall equitably protect this right for the public and may not take any action to infringe on this right.
(b) The public natural resources of this state are the common property of all persons, including future generations. The state, including the legislative, judicial, and executive branches
and each state agency and political subdivision, shall conserve, protect, and maintain the state’s public natural resources for the benefit of the public, including future generations.
H.J.R. No. 119
According to van Rossum, these environmental essentials of life should be recognized and protected at the constitutional level. She emphasizes that these are straightforward statements that highlight the importance of preserving our environment. van Rossum stated that eighteen other states have also made efforts to incorporate the amendment.
Representative Goodwin expressed his hope for Texas to take a leading role in the environmental movement. However, he acknowledged that it might take some time for the state to fully embrace this change.
According to Rep. Goodwin, the amendment empowers Texans to better protect their land and provides them with more options to take legal action if their waterway or air quality is harmed.
Representative Goodwin pointed out that if a state agency fails to penalize a company for polluting a waterway, individuals could argue that it infringes upon their constitutional right to a clean river.
Maya van Rossum took the initiative to start the movement when she successfully utilized the Green Amendment in Pennsylvania to secure a legal victory in Delaware.
According to van Rossum, they were amazed by the significance of the amendment and utilized it effectively in their legal arguments. In fact, their success in the legal action was further reinforced by the support and participation of seven municipalities and other local governmental entities.
According to van Rossum, the team has chosen to concentrate on state constitutions due to their relatively easier amendment process compared to the national constitution. “State constitutions are regularly amended, and states wield significant authority when it comes to environmental protection and matters concerning the environment.”
Texas voters are frequently called upon to make decisions on new amendments following each legislative session.
The first step in the process is for the legislature to pass a joint resolution. To achieve this, a two-thirds vote is required in both chambers. Specifically, at least 100 members in the Texas House and 21 in the Texas Senate must vote in favor of the resolution.
An amendment was passed by voters to grant retired teachers with cost-of-living increases. Additionally, measures were approved to establish funds that would invest in broadband, water infrastructure, and state parks.
The attempt to increase the compulsory retirement age for judges did not succeed.
Over the years, Texas voters have shown a consistent trend of passing the majority of proposed amendments. Out of the 14 amendments put forth in the recent election, 13 were approved by the voters.
This aligns with the historical pattern, as lawmakers have presented a total of 711 constitutional amendments since 1876, with an impressive success rate of nearly 75%, as 530 of them have been passed by the voters.
