Former Mayor Ron Nirenberg and United State Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-San Antonio) have both openly kicked the tires on a possible statewide project in 2026, yet until now neither San Antonian seems broadening their benefactor base or elevating huge cash for such a race.
Project money records covering the initial fifty percent of 2025 scheduled Tuesday and Nirenberg, that has actually been drifting the concept of competing guv versus Republican politician Gov. Greg Abbott, reported concerning $7,000 in his city project account.
As his mayoral period was unwinding in 2014 Nirenberg additionally introduced a government political action committee called One Area, which has actually increased concerning $25,000.
Abbott is among one of the most respected charity events in Texas background and simply transported an additional $20 million in the previous 6 months.
Castro, at the same time, is amongst a lengthy checklist of Democrats that have actually signified rate of interest in Texas’ 2026 united state Us senate race.
GOP infighting in between united state Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and his scandal-ridden main opposition, Attorney general of the United States Ken Paxton, has actually made it an enticing chance for enthusiastic Democrats– a few of whom are currently elevating huge cash for the race.
Project money records covering Jan. 1 via June 30, nevertheless, suggested the Westside congressman had actually increased concerning $172,000 until now this year, and reported concerning $168,000 available. He does not have a POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE, according to a project representative.
” It feels like there’s a detach in between the report mill and the conjecture and what’s in fact being increased,” claimed San Antonio political expert Bert Santibañez. “Those numbers do not show that somebody is preparing yourself to reveal a statewide project.”
Big opportunities
In a state where Democrats have actually long battled, Castro and others think their ideal contended splitting a statewide workplace remains in the midterm of a Republican politician’s presidency, when their advocates are most likely to be one of the most involved.
” I believe that’s where everyone ought to go done in,” Castro claimed on a Texas Tribune Feast panel in 2023. “That’s when you need to have a really solid slate of your ideal prospects that are competing whatever.”
Now Head of state Donald Trump’s return has actually produced such a chance this political election cycle, yet it’s vague whether any kind of San Antonians will certainly take a leading duty.
Castro hasn’t comprised his mind concerning the united state Us senate race, and would certainly encounter an Autonomous main with previous Dallas Congressman Colin Allred, that increased 10s of numerous bucks for his 2024 race versus united state Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).
An additional respected fundraising event, Beto O’Rourke, is additionally taking into consideration the united state Us senate race.
” Whether you like Beto O’Rourke or you like Colin Allred– every person likes one, dislikes one– we can all identify what they both did is they increase around $100 million for every of their political elections in order to turn the state,” claimed Lillie Schechter a previous chair of the Harris Area Democratic Celebration, at a discussion forum for Texas Democratic Celebration chair prospects over the summer season.
Texas state Rep. James Talarico (D-Round Rock), an additional prospective united state Us senate prospect, reported concerning $700,000 available.
” Any kind of prospect that’s mosting likely to appear of San Antonio for a statewide race … you’re taking on individuals that are originating from various other bigger cities where there’s simply a bigger benefactor base with a lot greater payment backgrounds,” claimed Andrew Solano, a San Antonio-based political expert that has actually additionally worked with lots of government races.
The last statewide prospect San Antonio generated was Leticia Van de Putte, a previous Autonomous state legislator that worked as Democrats’ candidate for lieutenant guv in 2014.
Provided nationwide Democrats’ ongoing rate of interest in Texas, San Antonio political expert Laura Barberena claimed there can still be a course in 2026 for prospects that can persuade effective outdoors teams, like organized labor, that they’re the best individual for the task.
” [A candidate] does not always need to have the cash, due to the fact that the single-interest group available might currently have it,” Barberena claimed. “They simply require to choose that they’re mosting likely to opt for.”
Here’s a very early consider the fundraising toning up in advance of various other essential 2026 races.
Texas’ 20th legislative district
If Castro were to compete united state Us senate as opposed to reelection, his left-leaning 20th legislative area would certainly attract rate of interest from lots of neighborhood Democrats that have actually had couple of chances to go up over the last few years.
State Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer (D-San Antonio), that additionally stands for component of the city’s West Side, is resting on about $390,000 in his project account.
Bexar Area Commissioner Rebeca Clay-Flores (Pct. 1), a Democrat, has around $180,000 available. Clay-Flores isn’t up for reelection up until 2026.
State and region authorities aren’t based on payment limitations like government prospects are, so it’s less complicated to increase cash yet they can not straight move it to a legislative project.
Technology business owner Beto Altamirano, that completed third in the mayor’s race, has actually additionally been reviewed as a possible Castro follower. He introduced the Strategy 210 political action committee afterwards race.
Texas’ 28th legislative district
U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Laredo) is safeguarding among one of the most targeted legislative seats in the nation in 2026– one that’s additionally in the crosshairs of the GOP’s initiatives to revise Democrat-held areas and make them extra beneficial for their event.
Cuellar offers on the Residence Appropriations Board, aiding make him a respected fundraising event for years. However his inbound payments dropped in 2014 after he was arraigned and he ended up costs project funds on his lawful protection.
In the previous 6 months Cuellar has actually increased concerning $250,000, lent his project $200,000 and is presently resting on concerning $360,000.
His highest-raising Republican opposition, Mayra Flores increased $325,000 and has around $140,000 available.
Webb Area Court Tano Tijerina, a leading GOP hire with a background of self-funding, developed an exploratory board to take into consideration the race yet hasn’t begun elevating cash.
Texas Residence Area 118
Nearly every one of Bexar Area’s state legislators stand for areas attracted sturdily to prefer one event. State Rep. John Lujan’s (R-San Antonio) Southside area is the exemption, and consistently among one of the most affordable, hard-fought seats in the state.
Lujan was reported to be taking into consideration a state Us senate quote in 2026, yet introduced strategies to look for reelection rather. He increased $12,500 in the last coverage duration, and reported concerning $26,000 in the financial institution.
Lujan shows up headed to a rematch with Democrat Kristian Carranza, that was among Texas Democrats’ most significant charity events on the Residence map last cycle. She increased $53,000 and has around $42,000 in the financial institution.
Texas Residence Area 121
Fresher state Rep. Marc LaHood (R-San Antonio) is elevating huge cash after locating himself at the facility of a prominent disagreement with effective GOP lobbying passions that have actually intimidated a possible main challenger this year.
LaHood assisted close down expenses the deep-pocketed company team Texans for Suit Reform desired, yet he’s generated almost $1.3 million headed right into his initial reelection race, many thanks partly to huge checks from the test attorneys that stand to gain from the step.
Bexar Area races
Bexar Area Court Peter Sakai, that is competing a 2nd four-year term in 2026, is resting on $435,000. It’s vague whether any kind of fellow Democrats will certainly test him, though a number of have actually been reported to be considering it.
Two Bexar Area Commissioner seats, District 2 and District 4, both stood for by long time Autonomous incumbents, will certainly additionally get on the tally.
Commissioner Justin Rodriguez (Pct. 2) has near to $1 million banked in his project account. Commissioner Tommy Calvert (Pct. 4) has concerning $145,000.
The Bexar Area Area Lawyer race will certainly be among best neighborhood races, since incumbent Democrat Joe Gonzales isn’t looking for reelection.
Judge Ron Rangel, a Democrat, has a political action committee that’s anticipated to begin elevating cash for a possible DA quote, yet hasn’t published any kind of public fundraising yet.
