Meet the Candidates
The 2004 election cycle covered a non-gubernatorial election year with relatively few races for statewide offices. For this reason, this report analyzes the $56.4 million raised in the 2004 cycle just by Texas legislative candidates. In contrast, the 2002 edition of Money in PoliTex analyzed contributions to both legislative and statewide candidates. An earlier TPJ publication listed the 69 individuals who contributed totals of more than $100,000 to all Texas state candidates and committees in the 2004 election cycle. (See TPJ’s press release, March 3, 2005.)
Legislative candidates analyzed here raised the $56.4 million between January 2003 and December 2004. Most of these candidates stood for regular elections in 2004. This report also analyzes campaign money raised by candidates for three special elections to fill legislative seats vacated in the 2004 cycle. Juan Escobar (D-Kingsville) won a special election in May 2003 for House District 43 following the death of Rep. Irma Rangel. Special elections in early 2004 filled two Senate vacancies. Kevin Eltife (R-Tyler) won the District 1 seat vacated by Sen. Bill Ratliff; Kel Seliger (R-Amarillo) won the District 31 seat that Sen. Teel Bivins vacated. Rep. Tommy Merritt (R-Longview) complicated matters by losing a bid for Ratliff’s vacated senate seat in a January 2004 special election; he then won a House race ten months later. For simplicity, this report just lists him as a candidate for the House race that he won (he raised about half his money in the cycle for the Senate race and half for the House race).
The contribution data used in this report comes from the “Contribution & Expenditure” reports that all candidates must file with the Texas Ethics Commission. Donations of $50 or less can be filed as unitemized contribtutions. Except where otherwise noted, this report just analyzes the $55.8 million in campaign money that the candidates itemized.
Uncontested Races
Competitive Races
