With the race for Texas’ 8th Congressional District entering the final stretch, finance reports are showing it to be among the most expensive elections in the state. The most recent reports available include data through February 9, 2022.
Retired Navy SEAL Morgan Luttrell has a significant lead in campaign contributions. However, multiple PACs have spent heavily in support of Texas Youth Summit founder Christian Collins, bringing the amount spent on his behalf closer to Luttrell. Attorney and former Navy JAG Jonathan Hullihan comes in third in fundraising, however, he lags behind Luttrell and Collins.
As of February 9, Luttrell has raised $2,165,409. He has spent $1,408,711 and has $756,698 going into the home stretch. The Congressional Leadership Fund, the PAC affiliated with House GOP Leadership, is supporting his campaign, however, spending by outside groups on Luttrell’s behalf have not yet appeared on finance reports.
Collins has received $387,267 in contributions directly to his campaign. His campaign has spent $317,775, and has $69,492 cash on hand. However, these numbers don’t tell the entire story, since most spending supporting Collins has come from PACs. Outside groups have spent a total of $1,084,268 supporting Collins, including House Freedom Action, the PAC affiliated with the House Freedom Caucus, and two new PACs: Texans for Freedom and Keep Texas Great PAC. Texans for Freedom and Keep Texas Great PAC are entirely funded by former Woodforest Bank CEO Robert Marling, a resident of The Woodlands.
Hullihan has raised $195,790. His campaign has spent $145,538 and has $50,252. Finance reports do not indicate any direct expenditures on his behalf by outside groups. However, two prominent PACs that mail out voters guides, Conservative Republicans of Texas and the Texas Patriots PAC, have Hullihan listed as an endorsed candidate.
All the other candidates lag quite a bit behind the big three in the money race. Dan McKaughan raised $43,530, spent $29,504, and has $14,026 cash on hand. Candice Burrows raised $38,684, spent $31,292, and has $7,391 cash on hand. Taylor Whichard IV raised $34,077, spent $11,101, and has $2,036 cash on hand. Jessica Wellington raised $17,065, spent $689, and has $16,375 cash on hand.
The lone Democrat running for CD-08, Laura Jones, raised $28,392, spent $27,663, and has $2,038 cash on hand. CD-08 is a GOP stronghold and is unlikely to attract Democrat donors.
If you think a lot of money is being spent in the primary, just wait until the runoff…
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Texas Citizen Journal 