{"id":147909,"date":"2026-02-02T20:10:12","date_gmt":"2026-02-02T20:10:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/147909\/"},"modified":"2026-02-02T20:10:12","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T20:10:12","slug":"a-look-at-the-top-fundraisers-in-san-antonios-congressional-races","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/147909\/","title":{"rendered":"A look at the top fundraisers in San Antonio’s congressional races"},"content":{"rendered":"

Out of more than 40 candidates competing to represent Bexar County in Congress, former Major League Baseball player\u00a0Mark Teixeira<\/a>, a political newcomer vying to replace U.S. Rep. Chip Roy (R-Dripping Springs), is raising money in a league of his own.<\/p>\n

Campaign finance reports covering money raised and spent up to Dec. 31 were due Saturday for federal candidates.<\/p>\n

Teixeira\u2019s indicated<\/a> that the 45-year-old Bee Cave resident had raised more than $3 million \u2014 $545,000 from donors and a staggering $2.5 million personal loan \u2014 since launching a congressional bid in August.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s one of a dozen candidates running for the GOP nomination<\/a> in the deep-red 21st Congressional District, which drew several other Republicans with connections to state and national donors, including former FEC Chair Trey Trainor<\/a>,\u00a0and former Small Business Administration adviser Michael Wheeler<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But the next-highest fundraisers in that race reported having about a tenth as much money to spend on their campaigns as Teixeira, who played 14 seasons of professional baseball and signed a $180 million contract<\/a> with the New York Yankees in 2008.<\/p>\n

Those personal resources even put him ahead of the highest-raising incumbent, U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales<\/a> (R-San Antonio), who serves on the high-profile House Appropriations Committee and brought in $1.8 million<\/a> for his reelection race in the 23rd Congressional District.<\/p>\n

\u201c[President Donald Trump] went to Washington, D.C. as an outsider \u2014 he had already been successful, he was already rich and powerful and famous,\u201d Teixeira said at a recent Bexar GOP debate, in which other candidates criticized him for putting so much personal money into the race. \u201c[Trump] didn\u2019t go to Washington for himself. He went to Washington because he loves this country. \u2026 I feel like President Trump and I have a lot in common.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Former Major League Baseball player Mark Teixeira speaks at a TX21 debate hosted by the Republican Party of Bexar County at the Norris Event Center Thursday night. Credit: Amber Esparza \/ San Antonio Report<\/p>\n

After Texas\u2019 mid-cycle redistricting effort, Bexar County is now divided between four congressional districts<\/a> in the 2026 midterm election.<\/p>\n

While one of them, Texas\u2019 redrawn 35th Congressional District is expected to be a barnburner in November, right now the majority of the spending is flowing to other races, where the primary is expected to be the bigger contest<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Gonzales, for example, faces an expensive primary against with YouTuber Brandon Herrera<\/a>, a fellow Republican who sent him to a runoff in 2024<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Herrera had raised about $900,000 in his campaign account, according to his most recent report and has alluded to<\/a> additional PAC money that can be used for the race.<\/p>\n

At a recent candidate forum hosted by the Alamo Pachyderm Club, Herrera likened the rematch to Sylvester Stallone\u2019s Rocky movies, where few expected a \u201cnobody off the street with no prior experience to be able to go toe-to-toe\u201d with a formidable incumbent.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven though we got thrown up against one of the best-funded Republican incumbents in the entire state of Texas, we went to the runoff, and we lost by only 400 votes,\u201d he told the crowd of about 100 people at the Schertz\u00a0Civic Center. \u201cThis cycle, I call it Rocky II. \u2026 It\u2019s not until Rocky II where he actually wins.\u201d<\/p>\n

Early voting for the March 3 primary starts Feb. 17.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a look at the top fundraisers in San Antonio-area congressional races.<\/p>\n

Texas\u2019 20th Congressional District<\/p>\n

U.S. Rep.\u00a0Joaquin Castro<\/a>\u00a0(D-San Antonio), is seeking reelection in a redrawn\u00a020th Congressional District<\/a>, which will\u00a0now encompass nearly all of downtown San Antonio, instead of\u00a0just the West Side<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro talks about his visit with 5-year-old Liam Adrian Conejo Ramos and his father who were being detained at Dilley Detention Center during a press conference at City Hall on Wednesday. Credit: Amber Esparza \/ San Antonio Report<\/p>\n

Castro was once considering a statewide race this election cycle, but has only raised about $270,000 for his reelection race as of Dec. 31. His two Democratic primary challengers did not have a report on file<\/a> as of Sunday afternoon.<\/p>\n

Texas\u2019 21st Congressional District<\/p>\n

Self-funding dominated the crowded field of Republicans running to succeed Roy.<\/p>\n

After Teixeria, the next-highest fundraiser<\/a> was Wheeler, a financial analyst who has worked at some of the nation\u2019s largest banks. He reported a total of $325,000 raised as of Dec. 31, including a $250,000 personal loan.<\/p>\n

Similarly, Jason Cahill<\/a>, who owns his own oil and gas company in Boerne, raised $284,000, including a $250,000 personal loan. <\/p>\n

\"\"Michael Wheeler, a former adviser to the Small Business Administration, speaks at a TX21 debate hosted by the Republican Party of Bexar County. Credit: Amber Esparza \/ San Antonio Report<\/p>\n

\"\"U.S. Navy veteran Jason Cahill speaks at a TX21 debate hosted by the Republican Party of Bexar County at the Norris Event Center in January. Credit: Amber Esparza \/ San Antonio Report<\/p>\n

Daniel Betts<\/a>, a defense attorney from Dripping Springs, was the only candidate to crack $100,000 without a major personal loan.<\/p>\n

Texas\u2019 23rd Congressional District<\/p>\n

After narrowly surviving his 2024 primary runoff<\/a>, Gonzales appears to be spending big for this year\u2019s four-way race. <\/p>\n

He\u2019s raised big money from PACs that typically give to incumbents, reported $2.5 million in the bank at the end of 2025 and has been on TV<\/a> with ads for much of January touting his endorsement from Trump<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"U.S.U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales attends a groundbreaking ceremony in San Antonio in June 2024. Credit: Scott Ball \/ San Antonio Report<\/p>\n

\"\"Brandon Herrera, Texas 23rd congressional district candidate, at a rally with Rep. Matt Gaetz at the Angry Elephant in March 2024. Credit: Brenda Baz\u00e1n \/ San Antonio Report<\/p>\n

Herrera, who was a political newcomer in the 2024 race, has also been assembling a more serious campaign this year. He told the Texas Tribune<\/a> in mid-November that he\u2019d already amassed more than $1 million between his campaign account and various PACs, and reported raising<\/a> about $300,000 in the final quarter of 2025.<\/p>\n

The GOP primary also features former U.S. Rep. Quico Canseco<\/a>, who did not have a report on file with the FEC as of Sunday afternoon. He told the San Antonio Report he\u2019d paid to poll the race in November, then launched his campaign just before the December filing deadline. <\/p>\n

Texas\u2019 35th Congressional District<\/p>\n

Both Republicans and Democrats have contested primaries in this newly redrawn district, which was created to give the GOP another pickup opportunity in 2026 and doesn\u2019t have an incumbent on the ballot.<\/p>\n

The race in November will likely draw big national money from both parties, but in the primary, candidates have largely been on their own<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Of the 11 Republicans running, five seemed to be raising significant money, according to the most recent reports: Retired U.S. Navy Commander Jay Furman<\/a>, state Rep. John Lujan<\/a> (R-San Antonio), boxing gym owner Carlos De La Cruz<\/a>, former GOP congressional staffer Josh Cortez<\/a> and executive coach Ryan Krause<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Their total fundraising was all relatively similar, but Lujan reported less cash on hand as of Dec. 31.<\/p>\n

\"\"Republican John Lujan speaks to a gathering of the Bexar County Republican Club at Chester\u2019s Hamburgers. Credit: Brenda Baz\u00e1n \/ San Antonio Report<\/p>\n

Some believe the district was drawn specifically for Lujan<\/a> \u2014 the only Republican to win a Texas House district that fits almost entirely within its boundaries.<\/p>\n

But he hasn\u2019t had much experience with tough GOP primaries, and after getting major financial help from state GOP leaders in his legislative races, he told a group of Republicans at Bigz\u2019 Burger Joint last month that it\u2019s been more challenging to raise funds for a congressional contest.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a lot of fundraising, a lot of fundraising, and also fundraising,\u201d he joked to the group. \u201cI knew it was bad, \u2026 but man, you get in there, and I just have to now tell myself, \u2018Quit crying, you said you were going to do this.’\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Bexar County Sheriff\u2019s Office public information officer Johnny Garcia announced plans to run for the redrawn 35th Congressional District at an October event on the South Side. Credit: Diego Medel \/ San Antonio Report<\/p>\n

\"\"John Lira, candidate for U.S. House Texas District 35, speaks at the Tejano Democrats SD26 endorsement forum at Luby\u2019s on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026 in San Antonio. Credit: Salgu Wissmath for the San Antonio Report<\/p>\n

Among the Democrats, longtime Bexar County Sheriff\u2019s Deputy Johnny Garcia<\/a> leads the cash race with $100,000 hauled so far. <\/p>\n

Garcia had a big fundraiser<\/a> with local Democratic leaders in November, was a guest of DNC Chair Ken Martin at a recent national fundraising event, and held another local fundraiser in January<\/a> after the close of the most recent reporting period.<\/p>\n

In a four-way primary race, Garcia faces tough competition from John Lira<\/a>, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who returned home to San Antonio after several roles working for the federal government. Lira has been scooping up endorsements from local Democratic groups<\/a>, and reported $83,000 raised so far.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy biggest challenge here in the primary is probably Johnny Garcia, but Johnny Garcia still works full time as a Bexar County [Sheriff\u2019s deputy], and running for Congress is a full-time endeavor,\u201d Lira said in a recent interview. \u201cWe consider that a strategic advantage for us, because we wake up early to connect with voters, and we stop calling donors at 9 p.m. at night.\u201d<\/p>\n

U.S. Senate<\/p>\n

In the final months of this closely watched Republican primary, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn<\/a> (R-Texas) has vastly more resources<\/a> than his two challengers, Attorney General Ken Paxton<\/a> and U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt<\/a> (R-Houston), thanks in part to national Republicans\u2019 campaign arms, which have gotten creative to direct money toward the incumbent\u2019s reelection campaign.<\/p>\n

Cornyn has already benefitted from about $50 million worth of TV ads for this race, the Texas Tribune reported<\/a>, and between his campaign account and the various PACs set up to help him, brought in $7 million in the final quarter of 2025. He and his allied group reported $15 million on hand as of Dec. 31.<\/p>\n

Paxton raised $1.1 million in the final quarter of 2025 and reported nearly $3.7 million on hand. Hunt<\/a> brought in about $800,000, between his campaign and supporting PACs, according to the Tribune.<\/p>\n

Among the Democrats, U.S. Rep. James Talarico<\/a> (D-Round Rock) is enjoying the advantages<\/a> of having entered the U.S. Senate race<\/a> months before U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett<\/a> (D-Dallas), who was drawn out of her congressional district and jumped over the Senate race on the morning of the Dec. 8 filing deadline.<\/p>\n

They raised roughly the same amount in the final quarter of 2025, $6.9 million for Talarico and $6.5 million for Crockett. But as of Dec. 31, Talarico had about $7.1 million on hand compared to Crockett\u2019s $5.6 million.<\/p>\n

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