AUSTIN — The most expensive race for a seat in the Texas House of Representatives this year is the heated primary between House Speaker Dade Phelan and newcomer David Covey, with at least $4 million already spent.
No other race is comparable, according to a review of campaign finance records, and prices are expected to jump significantly as the contest heads to a May 28 runoff.
Most of that money came from sources outside the 21st District in Southeast Texas, with 96% of donations going to Phelan's campaign and nearly 99% of Covey's donations.
Out-of-state groups are also getting involved, including the national anti-tax group Club for Growth, which has spent more than $1 million on anti-Ferran television ads, including includes an ad depicting the speaker as a liberal “Democrat in disguise.” ”
This ad buy was just the beginning. Club for Growth, a leading advocate for public spending on private schools, had secured more than $1.1 million in ad time in the run-up to the Phelan-Covey runoff, according to ad tracking service AdImpact. That's what it means.
“Dade Phelan has repeatedly failed Texans on many issues, including not allowing school choice and not appointing liberal Democrats to leadership positions. David McIntosh, chairman of the Club for Growth Action, said.
“We're going to use whatever we need,” he said.
Mr. Phelan, who has been the leader of the Texas House of Representatives since 2021, has fought back with ads depicting Mr. Covey as a “puppet of West Texas billionaires” and efforts to promote out-of-state tuition assistance. He peppers his speeches and television ads with references to “outsiders” who are trying to oust him from public office.
“These outsiders are hell-bent on stealing the chairmanship from Southeast Texas,” said Joe Evans, chairman of the Jefferson County Republican Party, in the Phelan ad.
Mr. Phelan finished second to Mr. Covey in the March primary, despite raising $5.3 million to Mr. Covey's $861,000.
Mr. Covey countered with strong support from out-of-state sources, including the Club for Growth and its subsidiary, the School Freedom Fund, which spent about $400,000 on television ads before the primary.
All of this adds up to an unusually high fundraising total for a Texas House primary. It's a massive move that underscores the importance of Phelan Covey's campaign as the Republican right seeks greater control over legislation and policy.
Rep. Phelan (R-Beaumont) has been blamed for the difficulties facing some conservative priorities in the House, particularly those supported by Senate President Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Last year's House impeachment vote against Attorney General Ken Paxton put a new target on Mr. Phelan's back.
Former President Donald Trump, who has strong ties to Patrick and Paxton, supported Covey, but Gov. Greg Abbott remained neutral.
Mr. Phelan countered by emphasizing Phelan Boulevard's deep ties to the neighborhood, which is a main artery in Beaumont.
“I identified my voters,” Phelan said on Spectrum News' “Capital Tonight” in March. “Despite the support for me from all over the country, even though as far as we know $5 million has been spent against me, I have strong support in my home country.”
If Phelan is to continue in office, he will need to make a comeback in the run-off election.
In the March primary, Mr. Covey received 46% of the vote and Mr. Phelan received 43%. Alicia Davis, who raised little money and did not actively campaign, won 10%.
Mr. Covey and Mr. Phelan collectively raised $6.17 million in the eight months leading up to the March 5 primary. That number was more than three times higher than the next closest race in the Republican primary, where many anti-incumbent allies emerged, according to campaign finance reports.
Mr. Abbott has targeted House Republicans who stand in the way of his school choice priorities, and Mr. Paxton has gone after Republicans, including Mr. Phelan, who voted to impeach Mr. Abbott on official misconduct charges last year. .
Coming in second place by a wide margin in Republican primary funding was a four-way race between Rep. John Kuempel (R-Seguin) and Alan Schoolcraft, Greg Switzer and David Freimark, with a total of $1.85 million was raised.
Kumpel, who opposed Abbott's school choice push and voted to impeach him, will face Schoolcraft in the runoff.
Mr. Phelan's status as one of the most influential Republicans in Texas has drawn attention and money to his race.
As speaker, Mr. Phelan plays a key role in shaping the House by enforcing rules and assigning leaders to the committees where much of the legislative work takes place.
The position is a double-edged sword, allowing Mr. Phelan to raise large sums of money for his campaign, but also making him a center of attention for Republicans who want a bigger political role.
“Although he only represents one district, he does have standing in the chamber, which makes him someone opponents want to target more than just an ordinary member,” said James Nelson, a political science professor at Lamar University. Probably.'' at Beaumont.
Winner-take-all results are also increasing interest in the race. With no Democrats on the November ballot, the winner of the Phelan-Covey runoff will advance to Congress next year.
Phelan's campaign raised $5.31 million in the eight months leading up to the primary, of which $5.11 million came from outside the district, which is comprised of Jefferson, Orange and Jasper counties.
Mr. Phelan's campaign did not respond to questions about donors from outside the district.
Covey's campaign raised $860,592 before the primary, $849,696 of which came from donors who don't live in the district.
His biggest supporter is Conservative Majority Texans United, an ultra-conservative political action committee funded by West Texas oil magnates Tim Dunn and Farris Wilkes, which is disloyal to Republican priorities. They are targeting perceived Republicans.
The organization provided Mr. Covey with $225,000 in direct contributions and an additional $181,619 in television advertising, according to campaign finance records.
Covey did not directly answer questions about donations from outside the district. He said in his statement that he would answer “first and foremost” to voters in Southeast Texas.
“My donor base aligns with the conservative values of Southeast Texas,” Covey said. “The same cannot be said for Dade Phelan.”
Mr. Covey's second-largest donation, $200,000, came from Amarillo businessman Alex Fairley. Mr. Patrick's campaign spent $18,748 on campaign text messages on Mr. Covey's behalf.
Mr. Phelan, who entered the Texas House of Representatives in 2015, was reelected four times without facing a major opponent. That changed this year with Covey running for office for the first time.
Mr. Phelan's largest contribution was $750,000 from the Republican State Leadership Committee Grassroots Account. The Washington, D.C.-based group donates to Republicans running for statehouse and other down-ballot seats.
Phelan is the only Texan to receive a donation from the organization.
He also received $200,000 from Texas Sands PAC, the political action committee of casino resort giant Las Vegas Sands, which is promoting gambling expansion in Texas.
Phelan also received three other six-figure donations. Texans for Responsible Government, formed by Republican donors Michael and Mary Porter, contributed $125,000. Dallas billionaire oil producer Ray Hunt and Border Health PAC each donated $100,000.
Phelan's campaign spent $1.8 million on advertising in the months leading up to the primary, according to AdImpact. In addition, he has $794,800 budgeted for advertising until the May 28 runoff election.
Both candidates traveled to Dallas to fill their campaign coffers.
Republican donors and Republican lawmakers gathered at billionaire Kelsey Warren's home in Dallas last month for a Phelan fundraiser. Major donor and businessman Harlan Crowe also attended.
Covey, whose campaign has spent more than $1.2 million on television ads, was in Dallas to attend a May 1 fundraiser by local businessman and conservative activist Doug Deason.
Neither camp responded to questions about how much money the event raised.
