Candidates in Texas’ slate of congressional contests have submitted their October quarterly finance reports, shedding light on where the races stand and where they’re headed as early voting continues and the general election approaches in less than two weeks.
Among the most watched of these races are a handful in South Texas, particularly as Republicans work to replicate the strong Latino vote President Donald Trump received during the 2024 cycle, and as the districts which were redrawn last summer to favor the GOP do not all appear guaranteed wins.
The October quarterly filings with the Federal Ethics Commission cover July 1 through September 30 and were due by October 15.
In four South Texas-area districts, Republicans were outraised by Democrats. In Congressional District (CD) 15, incumbent U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz (R-TX-15) is facing Tejano music star Bobby Pulido, who raised about three times as much as her. Pulido reported $3.25 million in receipts, while De La Cruz raised $1.27 million. Pulido’s cash on hand (COH) sits at $1.37 million, while De La Cruz has $802,995 in COH.
In CD 35, Monica De La Cruz’s brother, Carlos De La Cruz, is up against Democratic nominee Johnny Garcia in U.S. Rep. Greg Casar’s (D-TX-35) redrawn district — which was moved out of Austin to down near San Antonio, flipping it from a deep blue rating of D-77% to leaning Republican at R-55%, per The Texan’s Texas Partisan Index (TPI).
Garcia raised a little over $985,000, reporting about $510,000 in COH. His Republican opponent, who is endorsed by Trump, raised approximately $843,000 and has over $476,000 in COH.
In CD 28, incumbent U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28) easily outraised his GOP challenger, former Democrat and Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina, raising a little over $760,000 compared with the latter’s $379,000. Cuellar filed about $1.05 million in COH, while Tijerina’s COH sits at about $211,000. The TPI shows CD 28 as becoming a bit more blue after redistricting, moving from D-51% to D-53%.
Their race has been a particular focus of Trump’s, after he pardoned Cuellar for what he described at the time as politically motivated indictments under the Biden administration, and Trump’s frustration that Cuellar did not switch parties after the fact — which Trump called a “tremendous act of disloyalty.”
Recent reporting by the Texas Tribune indicated that Republicans hesitated to keep funneling money into their attempt to oust Cuellar, with the Congressional Leadership Fund pulling millions that would have attacked the incumbent and instead targeting CDs 15 and 34.
In the latter race, incumbent U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX-34) surpassed Eric Flores, his Republican challenger, in fundraising as they vie to represent CD 34. Gonzalez wrapped up the October quarter with $1.18 million raised, while his fellow South Texas GOP nominee, backed similarly by Trump, reported a little over $955,000 raised. The latter has about $282,000 in COH, while Gonzalez holds a solid $1.83 million. The TPI shows the district as changing from D-54% pre-redistricting to R-52% afterwards.
In the Southeast CD 9, one of the redrawn areas held by U.S. Rep. Al Green (D-TX-09) but redrawn to benefit Republicans, the GOP candidate — Alex Mealer — handily outdid her Democratic opponent, Leticia Gutierrez, in fundraising in this October quarterly window report. Mealer came in with a little over $596,000 raised, and reported $479,349 in COH. Gutierrez reported nearly $97,000 in receipts, and $92,965 in COH. CD 9 was rated D-63% before redistricting, per the TPI, but is now rated R-60%.
In West Texas, in another redrawn district, CD 23, Republican nominee Brandon Herrera outraised his Democratic opponent, Katy Padilla Stout, with a total of $1.32 million reported and about $554,000 in COH. Padilla Stout raised about $492,000, and finished off with a little over $428,000 in COH. Despite the Republicans’ mid-decade redistricting having a mild impact on the shape of CD 23, the district continues to lean Republican at R-57%, per The Texan’s TPI.
Over in CD 32 — which is open after U.S. Rep. Julie Johnson (D-TX-32), who has held the seat since 2025, switched to run for CD 33 due to redistricting — Republican Jace Yarbrough significantly outraised his Democratic opponent, Richardson City Councilmember Dan Barrios. The latter raised about $54,000, while Yarborough brought in over $345,000. Barrios has $28,000 in COH, while Yarborough reported $293,000. Johnson’s planned departure came after the district dramatically moved from D-62% to R-60% in the TPI after it was redrawn.
While none of these U.S. House District races in Texas can hold a candle to the money being poured into the state’s U.S. Senate contest between Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and state Rep. James Talarico (D-Austin), these races could very well determine which party holds a majority in Congress — redefining the next two years under Trump’s presidency.