About $3M raised in race to replace Kelly Hancock in the Texas Senate, reports show

TARRANT COUNTY, Texas — Three are vying in an expensive race to replace former state Sen. Kelly Hancock in District 9, covering much of Tarrant County, that’s seen about $3 million raised by the candidates. 

The seat was vacated after Hancock accepted an appointment as interim Texas comptroller — a job he’s running to keep permanently. 

Among those running for Hancock’s former Senate seat are Republican John Huffman, former mayor of Southlake, and Republican Leigh Wambsganss, the chief communications officer for Patriot Mobile, which provides wireless service and has a political action committee that is known for supporting conservative candidates in Texas, and Democrat Taylor Rehmet, an Air Force veteran and union organizer.

Wambsganss, who touts endorsements from President Donald Trump, Sen. Ted Cruz and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, raised the most at a little more than $1.6 million from July 1 to Oct. 25, and of that, spent about $1.4 million, according to campaign finance reports filed with the Texas Ethics Commission. 

Among the donors to Wambsganss’ campaign is the Texans United for a Conservative Majority PAC, according to campaign finance reports, which, as our content partners at the Texas Tribune report, is linked to West Texas oil tycoons Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks. 

Huffman has raised about $1.35 million since July and reported spending slightly under $1 million, according to campaign finance reports filed with the Texas Ethics Commission. 

Texas Sands PAC, a political action committee linked to Miriam Adelson, a casino magnate whose family owns the Dallas Mavericks, has donated $1.2 million to Huffman’s campaign since July, the campaign finance reports show. 

As our content partners at the Texas Tribune have reported, Sands PAC has lobbied to legalize gambling in Texas.

Rehmet reported raising about $127,000 from July 1 to Oct. 25 and of that, spent about $65,000, according to campaign finance reports filed with the Texas Ethics Commission. Notable donors to Rehmet’s campaign include the Machinists Non-Partisan Political League, which donated $10,000, unions and musician Don Henley, who made a $2,000 donation, according to campaign finance reports. 

The campaign finance reports of the candidates were previously reported on by the Fort Worth Report among other local outlets.