“Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character’.” I Corinthians 15:33
The January 31 election financial report deadline has passed and we can now see who is funding local candidates and where they are putting their money.
In the Republican Primary for State House District 136, Michelle Evans raised $3,239.73 for the period, boasting 26 contributors, with an average contribution of $129.
Her opponent, Amin Salahuddin, raised $3,040.00 from 10 contributors, for an average of $299/contribution.
At first blush, it would appear Ms. Evans has the edge in grassroots (ie likely primary voters) interest, with more, small dollar contributions and an edge in money raised for the reporting period.
Things get more interesting comparing expenditures and cash on hand. The Salahuddin campaign spent $8,741.09 during the reporting period, the lion’s share of it on signs and sign placement. He boasts a war chest of $8,333, nearly 3X the Evans campaign cash on hand.
The Evans campaign spent $2,665 during the reporting period, including $1,030 to Granbury, TX based Criswell Strategies, a political consulting firm, $333 on campaign travel expenses.
There’s also an interesting transaction with involving $150 to Texas Alliance for Life on 1/6/2022 for “Committee member fee”, which was refunded 1/11/2022. Texas Alliance for Life is a rather swampy, “big baby” advocacy organization that has made bank over the years playing footsie with various Austin swamp creatures like Joe Strauss, Greg Abbott, disgraced, former House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, et al. Their 2022 Primary Endorsements are a veritable who’s who of establishment Republicans, many of whom have a tenuous relationship with the pro-life cause, when there are often much better primary challengers available. At some point, you have to wonder if TAL’s purpose is saving babies or grift. Good for Ms. Evans for kicking them to the curb.
Now, she has to buckle down, raise some coin, knock on doors and parley her strong record of grassroot leadership and warrior spirit into beating her well-funded, stealth Democrat opponent.