With Gov. Greg Abbott and Republican political groups leading the charge, GOP candidates have substantially outraised their Democratic opponents in Democrat-controlled South Texas Congressional Districts 34, 80, and 74, signaling a strategic push to strengthen the Republican foothold in a traditionally Democratic region.
Between July and September, Republican candidates in these targeted districts raised over $1 million, vastly surpassing the $243,000 brought in by Democrats.
This aggressive fundraising, according to the Texas Tribune, reflects Republican optimism about potential gains in districts with retiring incumbents, such as House Districts 34 and 80, represented by outgoing Democrats Abel Herrero and Tracy King, and District 74, currently held by Democratic state Rep. Eddie Morales, who faces a strong GOP challenger.
District 34
Republican Denise Villalobos and Democrat Solomon Ortiz Jr., both Corpus Christi natives, are vying to replace Democratic Rep. Abel Herrero, who represented District 34 for over a decade. District 34 encompasses the portion of Nueces County where Corpus Christi is located.
Backed by Abbott, Villalobos has focused her campaign on advocating for tougher border security measures and supporting school-choice legislation—a top priority for Abbott in the upcoming legislative session.
Her opponent, Ortiz, opposes school choice. Like other prominent Democrats, Ortiz is also calling for a safer border, reflecting a more conservative stance on the issue this year.
District 80
Democrat Cecilia Castellano is running against former Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin Jr. to represent District 80, which includes parts of Webb County and the entirety of Atascosa, Dimmit, Frio, Uvalde, and Zavala counties. Democrat Tracy King has held the seat since 2005.
Earlier this year, agents executed search warrants at Castellano's home as part of a vote-harvesting investigation led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Her team told the Houston Chronicle the investigation is a politically motivated attempt to hurt her campaign against McLaughlin, who is endorsed by top state Republicans, including Paxton.
District 74
Border district 74 runs from El Paso to Eagle Pass. According to the Texas Tribune, Democratic state Rep. Eddie Morales was outraised by GOP nominee Robert Garza, a former Del Rio mayor.
However, Morales, an attorney based in Eagle Pass, heads into the final stretch with significantly more cash on hand.
Democrats Respond to Fundraising Efforts
In response to the GOP's fundraising efforts, Democrats have mounted their offensive in other key Texas House races, particularly in the Dallas suburbs, targeting districts that President Joe Biden would have won under the state's new electoral boundaries.
Despite this push, Republicans have kept pace in terms of fundraising for many contested seats, the Texas Tribune reports. Democrats are also receiving support from Texas Majority PAC, a new political group led by Beto O'Rourke that focuses on voter turnout and local Democratic infrastructure. With donations from prominent donors, this PAC aims to bolster Democratic efforts across Texas, especially in urban areas and along the border.
Who Will Win the Latino Vote?
The overall picture reveals an intense financial and strategic battle for Texas House seats, with both parties aggressively fundraising and investing in voter mobilization. These efforts come during a time in which Latinos, who represent the majority of voters in South Texas, are increasingly voting red, largely due to their increased focus on inflation and border security.
An Axios report on Latino voters in Texas shows that 83% of registered Latino Democrats and 84% of Latino Republicans are extremely likely to vote. Inflation remains the top issue across party lines, followed by housing costs, jobs and wages, and crime and safety. Border security is a major concern for Latino Republicans, while abortion rights are a high priority for Latino Democrats and independents.
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