Some Texas Democrats See Fundraising Boon – But Not Valdez

This week in Texas politics with the Texas Tribune

By Rhonda FanningJuly 23, 2018 12:18 pm, ,

Texas Democrats have been doing well in the fundraising race leading up to November’s midterm elections. There has been one notable exception, though: Lupe Valdez, the democratic gubernatorial candidate. Emily Ramshaw, editor-in-chief of the Texas Tribune, says Valdez has struggled to rake in cash

“The last thing I saw was about $225,000 cash on hand,” Ramshaw says, referring to Valdez’s war chest. Governor Greg Abbott, meanwhile, sits atop of tens of millions of dollars in reelection funds. Democratic congressional candidates, though, are enjoying advantages over their Republican opponents in terms of enthusiasm and donations.

“We saw pretty decent fundraising numbers with Wendy Davis and it didn’t move the needle,” Ramshaw cautions. “This is still a very conservative state and Republicans still obviously have the upper hand. But money does matter.”


Turning to the border, Ramshaw spoke about children who are due to show up in immigration court. The Trump administration has summoned about 70 children to deportation proceedings — though many of these children cannot speak or walk.

“It seems kind of crazy that you’re gonna have them in court,” Ramshaw says.

Such proceedings also occurred under the Obama administration, but their frequency and number has increased under President Trump.


In Austin, there has been trouble at one of the state’s Health Services building, which some reports say has been infested with rats. There has also been a problem with mold “so severe that some employees are having to work from home,” Ramshaw says.

Ultimately, Ramshaw says that the responsibility for this health calamity falls to the legislature, which has underfunded maintenance projects over several sessions.

 

Written by Josue Moreno