Democrats raise big cash for Austin-area Texas House seats
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Several Democrats have emerged as leading fundraisers in the March 3 races to fill three Austin-area open state House seats.
Why it matters: The seats are safe bets for Democrats, but first they must win in crowded primaries.
Driving the news: Campaign finance reports filed Thursday shed light on which candidates have the most fundraising pull, typically a key indicator of political viability.
- The reports cover the last six months of 2025.
Catch up quick: Texas state Reps. James Talarico, Gina Hinojosa and Vikki Goodwin, all representing Austin-based districts, are seeking new offices — U.S. senator, governor and lieutenant governor — leaving open seats on the November ballot.
House District 50
Six Democrats are aiming to replace Talarico in House District 50, which encompasses parts of North Austin, northeast Austin and southern Pflugerville.
- Labor organizer Jeremy Hendricks raised the most cash during the period — nearly $82,000 — and has the most cash on hand, with about $42,000.
- Immigration attorney Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch raised nearly as much — about $79,000 — but burned through most of it, leaving her with just $1,800 at the end of the period.
- Samantha Lopez-Resendez, a senior policy adviser to state Rep. Donna Howard (D-Austin), raised nearly $13,000 and ended the period with $14,000 on hand.
House District 47
Two Democrats are running to replace Goodwin in House District 47, which takes in Austin's western flank, as well as Bee Cave and parts of Lakeway.
- Pooja Sethi, an immigration attorney and Goodwin's chief of staff, finished 2025 with $127,000 on hand, having raised $100,000 in the last six months of the year.
- Joseph Kopser, who unsuccessfully challenged Chip Roy for a U.S. congressional seat in 2018, raised $48,000 and finished with $51,000 on hand.
House District 49
Eight Democrats are vying to replace Hinojosa in House District 49, which runs from South Austin to far North Austin.
- Josh Reyna, chief of staff and general counsel for state Sen. César Blanco (D-El Paso), finished 2025 with nearly $130,000 on hand — but loaned himself $100,000 during the period, on top of $83,000 in fundraising.
- Montserrat Garibay, a labor organizer and an official in the Biden administration, finished with $120,500 on hand and raised $120,700 during the period. The largest contribution, $25,000, came from a teachers union.
- Former Austin City Council Member Kathie Tovo, arguably the best-known candidate in the field, raised $102,660 during the period, and finished with $72,000 available.
- Attorney Daniel Wang ($35,000 on hand at the end of the period); former U.S. State Department official Robin Lerner ($40,000 on hand); and nurse Kimmie Ellison ($31,000) are also on the ballot.
For the record: One Republican has filed in District 47 and one in 50 — but none in District 49.
Reality check: The GOP remains in firm control of the Texas House, limiting the power of any Democrat who wins the open seats.
What they're saying: "You need to raise enough money to be competitive, but the person who raises the most money doesn't necessarily win," Sherri Greenberg, a former state lawmaker who is an assistant dean at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas, tells Axios.
What's next: The primary is March 3, with early voting starting Feb. 17. If no candidate wins more than 50% of the vote, the top two vote-getters will head to a runoff in late May.