Texas election: 5 takeaways from Greg Abbott, Beto O’Rourke’s latest fundraising haul

Both candidates for Texas governor are reporting major hauls on their latest campaign finance reports.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, is seeking his third term and Democratic Nominee Beto O’Rourke, a former El Paso congressman who has run for U.S. Senate and president, is looking to flip the statewide seat. Election Day is Nov. 8.

Both candidates reported multi-million dollar earnings. Beto ended the July 15 period as the top fundraiser, while Abbott is ahead in cash on hand.

From hefty donations to total Texas earnings, here are some key takeaways from the campaign finance reports.

Beto O’Rourke outraised Gov. Greg Abbott

O’Rourke outraised Abbott during the latest filing period that covers Feb. 20 to June 30.

O’Rourke received $27.6 million in contributions and Abbott received $24.9 million. O’Rourke’s campaign said he received more than 511,000 contributions (about 508,000 were itemized in his campaign finance report) and Abbott received nearly 113,000 contributions.

Beto O’Rourke got three $1 million donations

O’Rourke received three $1 million dollar donations during the roughly four-month period.

They came from billionaire George Soros, the founder of Soros Fund Management and a Democratic mega-donor, as well as couple Tench and Simone Coxe, who each donated $1 million. Simone Coxe is the co-founder of the nonprofit news organization CalMatters and Tench Coxe previously worked at Shutter Hill Ventures, a venture capital firm, according to Forbes.

But overall Abbott had more big dollar donations than O’Rourke. Abbott received 380 contributions ranging from $10,000 to $500,000. O’Rourke had 196 contributions of $10,000 and over.

O’Rourke’s average contribution was $54 and Abbott’s was $221.

Abbott got more money from within Texas

Abbott got more money overall from Texans, but O’Rourke had a larger number of Texas-based contributions.

About 41% — 208,650 — of O’Rourke’s itemized contributions came from within the state. His Texas contributions total $14.5 million, which makes up 53% of his earnings that were itemized.

For Abbott, about 43% — 48,500 — of his contributions came from within Texas. His Texas contributions total $21.3 million, or 86% of what he raised.

O’Rourke received nearly 6,380 contributions from people or entities in Fort Worth. Abbott got more than 1,230 contributions people or entities in Fort Worth.

How much did candidates raise after Uvalde Shooting, Roe overturned?

The campaign finance reports due July 15 are the first since the school shooting in Uvalde and the overturning of Roe v. Wade by the U.S. Supreme Court. The events have spurred discussion in Texas about school and gun safety and abortion access.

O’Rourke had more than 264,700 itemized contributions totaling $15.2 million from on or after May 24, the day of the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde where 19 students and two teachers were killed. There were more than 78,100 itemized contributions to O’Rourke on or after June 24 when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. They total roughly $5.5 million.

Abbott received more than 28,000 contributions totaling $10 million that are dated May 24 or later. Nearly 9,900 contributions totaling about $4.1 million were from the day Roe was overturned or later.

Gov. Greg Abbott has more cash on hand, spent more

O’Rourke has raised more, but Abbott is headed into the remaining months of the campaign with more money on hand. His campaign war chest totaled $45.7 million at the end of the fundraising period. O’Rourke had $23.9 million on hand.

Abbott also spent more than O’Rourke — $29.9 million. O’Rourke spent roughly $9.5 million.