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Transparency Texas

THE ANSWERS YOU NEED ABOUT THE MONEY IN TEXAS POLITICS

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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
May 30, 2020 at 2:03 PM

48

48 In just 48 hours, Transparency Texas will become Transparency USA and expand coverage to NINE states— Arizona, Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wisconsin. If you're getting thi…
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
May 27, 2020 at 9:59 PM

We're expanding to these NINE states

We're expanding to these NINE states Friend, Introducing Transparency USA We are so excited to announce that we are expanding from a Texas-specific site to a national brand as Transparency USA. Beginning Ju…
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
May 21, 2020 at 11:59 AM

$132.60

$132.60 In Texas, a lobbyist can spend up to $132.60 per legislator, per day without having to report it. (New to the regulations governing lobbying? You can learn more about it here.) Sincerely, The Transparency Texas Tea…
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
May 19, 2020 at 1:59 PM

The double standard candidates rely on

The double standard candidates rely on Friend, Are professional lobbyists held under the same scrutiny as private citizens when it comes to the money they spend in Texas politics? Not even close. Here's ou…
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
May 15, 2020 at 1:59 PM

$110,709,975

$110,709,975 For the 2020 election cycle (2019 – 2020), $110,709,975 in taxpayer dollars is being spent to lobby Austin politicians.  Wondering where this number comes from, or how we determine which Lobbyist Clients are ta…
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
May 14, 2020 at 3:17 PM

Who's taxpayer-funded . . . and who isn't

Who's taxpayer-funded . . . and who isn't Friend, How do you feel about taxpayer-funded lobbying? After a failed attempt to ban it last session, it's a hot-button issue again in Texas. This week, we're bre…
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
May 8, 2020 at 11:44 AM

1451

1451 For the 2020 election cycle, 1451 lobbyists have been hired to influence 181 Texas lawmakers in Austin. (That's an 8:1 ratio.) Our lobbying data gives you access to a much larger piece of the financial picture than eve…
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
May 2, 2020 at 1:59 PM

73%

73% The number of state-level Republican candidates has decreased by 12 percent since 2018, but their donations have dropped by an astounding 73 percent. By comparison, the number of Democratic candidates has declined by two…
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
May 1, 2020 at 2:40 AM

Republicans down 73%, Democrats up 26%

Republicans down 73%, Democrats up 26% Friend, According to the latest reports, Republican fundraising is down 73 percent in the Texas state legislature compared to last cycle, while Democrat fundraising is…
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
April 24, 2020 at 2:59 PM

$100,000,000

$100,000,000 In the 2018 election cycle, money spent on lobbying in Texas exceeded all donations to Texas candidates and PACs by more than $100 million. You can see the organizations who spent the most and the highest-paid …
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
April 23, 2020 at 11:44 AM

Here's how much lobbying costs

Here's how much lobbying costs Friend, Who's "buying off" Austin? It's a hot topic every election season — including this one. But after those big checks are cashed, votes are counted, and politicians are s…
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
April 17, 2020 at 11:44 AM

$1,777,319,642

$1,777,319,642 Since 2015 (which includes the 2016, 2018, and 2020 election cycles to date), more than $1.7 billion has been spent in Texas on lobbying politicians. Explore our brand new, searchable lobbying data to see whe…
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
April 15, 2020 at 10:59 AM

NEW: The access you've been waiting for

NEW: The access you've been waiting for Friend, It's here. We're thrilled to announce that Transparency Texas now offers Lobbying Data. If you've ever wanted to know who's hiring lobbyists, what those lobby…
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
April 10, 2020 at 2:59 PM

$51,000,000

$51,000,000 The House Majority PAC, a Democratic SuperPAC primarily dedicated to helping elect Democrats to the U.S. Congress, has purchased $51 million worth of TV ads to be aired — mostly in swing states. More than $5.1 mi…
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
April 8, 2020 at 10:59 PM

Texas Elections + Corona: 10 Takeaways

Texas Elections + Corona: 10 Takeaways Friend, The coronavirus has changed everything. While we're all glued to medical and economic news, what's happening with the 2020 election season? Here are ten quick …
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
April 2, 2020 at 12:18 PM

40

40 According to Ballotpedia.org, 40 states have already made changes to their state elections dates or procedures (candidate filing requirements, state political party conventions, and voting or absentee voting processes) in…
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
March 26, 2020 at 10:37 PM

$2 Trillion

$2 Trillion The U.S. Senate just passed a $2 trillion Coronavirus relief bill. In one week, this aid package doubled from an estimated one trillion, and Congress is discussing further relief. The bill includes approximately …
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
March 20, 2020 at 7:50 PM

$1,000,000,000,000

$1,000,000,000,000 No, the "0" key didn't get stuck on our keyboard.  The U.S. Congress is hammering out the details of an economic stimulus package designed to prop up the faltering national economy as it struggles with co…
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
March 17, 2020 at 2:59 PM

5 issues with Biden's campaign finance plan

5 issues with Biden's campaign finance plan Friend, Biden renewed his call for government-funded campaigns during Sunday's debate. Here are five reasons we think this is a bad idea. Transparency Texas brin…
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
March 10, 2020 at 12:59 PM

Super Tuesday's Biggest Loser

Super Tuesday's Biggest Loser Friend, Super Tuesday’s biggest loser? The narrative that money can buy an election. From the top of the ballot to the bottom, voters proved again and again they won’t be sway…
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
March 6, 2020 at 3:59 PM

$800,555

$800,555 In the most surprising political upset in recent Texas politics, incumbent Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton spent $800,555  — 64 times what his primary challenger Jim Wright spent — and still lost the seat. Every …
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
March 2, 2020 at 11:59 AM

Read this before you vote

Read this before you vote Friend, If you've procrastinated on preparing for tomorrow's primaries, we've got you covered. Here's a TWO MINUTE OVERVIEW of how to use our site to make informed voting decisions…
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
February 29, 2020 at 12:59 PM

$224,131

$224,131 Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC, which typically supports moderate-to-liberal Republicans, has given $224,131 in in-kind and direct contributions to Democrat State Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. this election cycle. Lucio J…
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
February 28, 2020 at 4:59 PM

5 numbers to know before Super Tuesday

5 numbers to know before Super Tuesday Friend, The primaries are THIS Tuesday. Here are five major revelations to come out of this election cycle, including: the woman who catapulted into the #2 donor spot…
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
February 22, 2020 at 1:59 PM

86% of Dan Flynn's money

86% of Dan Flynn's money Since 2015, 86 percent of Texas House Rep. Dan Flynn’s contributions have come from PACs and lobbyists. While this certainly isn't unusual for a long-time incumbent and committee chairman, it's wort…
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
February 15, 2020 at 2:38 PM

65 (plus a new series!)

65 (plus a new series!) On March 3, Texans will vote in 65 primary battles for the Texas House of Representatives — 29 Republican and 36 Democrat. The winners of those contests will advance to the general election in Novembe…
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
February 6, 2020 at 3:59 PM

98%

98% So far, 98 percent of donors have given $1,000 or less for the 2020 Texas elections. Each week we bring you an interesting number from the Texas political scene. Find your own noteworthy number here. Sincerely, The Tra…
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
February 4, 2020 at 8:59 PM

All but 2% of donors gave this amount

All but 2% of donors gave this amount Friend, If you've donated to a political campaign this election cycle, it's highly likely that you gave less than $1000. As it turns out, you're in great company - and …
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
January 31, 2020 at 3:59 PM

$374,477

$374,477 Donors, PACs, and lobbyists donated $374,477 to Dennis Bonnen’s campaign account even after he came under investigation by the Texas Rangers. Each week we bring you an interesting number from the Texas political sc…
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
January 28, 2020 at 6:59 PM

Who will get Bonnen's money?

Who will get Bonnen's money? Friend, The latest campaign finance reports revealed — for the first time — the financial trail interwoven with the Bonnen scandal. We traced the timeline of events and found t…
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
January 25, 2020 at 1:32 PM

The outsiders funding Texas elections

The outsiders funding Texas elections Friend, Election season 2020 begins this Tuesday with three Texas House races that are receiving major national attention:  HD28 is the star of the show, with all the …
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
January 23, 2020 at 3:59 PM

$21,045,707

$21,045,707 $21,045,707 from out-of-state has already poured into the 2020 campaign accounts of Texas candidates and PACS. (This number in context here). ICYMI: Brand new numbers released on our site this week. Click here t…
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
January 21, 2020 at 3:00 AM

NOW LIVE: Latest Campaign Finance Numbers

NOW LIVE: Latest Campaign Finance Numbers Friend, It's here. The latest campaign finance data is live at Transparency Texas. Search any candidate or PAC to find everything you need to know about their donat…
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
January 16, 2020 at 5:59 PM

$354,099

$354,099 On average, candidates spent $354,099 to win a seat in the Texas House of Representatives in 2018. (Click through for the average in the 27 districts that won by less than ten percentage points.) Each week, Transpa…
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
January 14, 2020 at 7:59 PM

The cost of a Texas House seat

The cost of a Texas House seat Friend, We've calculated the price tag (in real dollars) to win a seat in the Texas House during the last election season. In 2020, expect candidates to blow that number out o…
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
December 20, 2019 at 7:59 PM

$38,020

$38,020 This year Texas State Senator John Whitmire spent $38,020 of his campaign contributions on tickets to Houston Texans, Rockets, and Astros games. Each week, Transparency Texas' Number of the Week will bring you an in…
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
December 19, 2019 at 9:29 PM

Outrageous purchases on donors' dime

Outrageous purchases on donors' dime Friend, We're closing out the year with a look at some of the wilder purchases during this year's legislative session. From day spas to private jets (plus thousands on c…
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
December 13, 2019 at 3:59 PM

$19,000,000

$19,000,000 In what is shaping up to be a Texas municipal campaign record, incumbent Sylvester Turner and challenger Tony Buzbee have spent a combined $19,000,000 to become the next mayor of Houston. Each week, Transparency…
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
December 12, 2019 at 6:59 PM

The costliest mayoral race in Texas history?

The costliest mayoral race in Texas history? Friend, The road to become the next mayor of Houston is paved with Benjamins. Turner and Buzbee have spared no expense in the lead-up to Saturday's runoff electi…
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
December 7, 2019 at 12:59 PM

Two Ms that could turn the House blue

Two Ms that could turn the House blue Friend, Only nine seats need to be flipped for Democrats to gain control over the Texas House. Here are the two main reasons they could pull it off in 2020, and how Rep…
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
December 6, 2019 at 4:12 PM

27

27 In the 2018 elections, 27 of the Texas House seats were won with less than a 10 percent margin of victory. Democrats only need to pick up nine seats to gain control of the House, so expect fierce competit…
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
November 21, 2019 at 2:59 PM

$5,000,000

$5,000,000 This week a group of Texas House Republicans announced the formation of a new PAC, Leading Texas Forward, with well-known Republican strategist Karl Rove as treasurer. Rep. Charlie Geren (Fort Wor…
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
November 14, 2019 at 3:59 PM

395%

395% The chairmen of the five most powerful committees in the Texas House (Calendars, Appropriations, Ways & Means, State Affairs, and Public Education) raised, on average, 395 percent compared to the av…
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
November 13, 2019 at 3:59 AM

Speaker Favorites Raise 4X Their Colleagues

Speaker Favorites Raise 4X Their Colleagues Friend, How do a select few Texas House members outraise their colleagues nearly 4 to 1? These are the real-life numbers that put a price tag on the House Speaker…
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
November 8, 2019 at 4:13 PM

9

9 On Tuesday, Texas voters approved nine out of 10 proposed amendments to their state constitution, most notably a prohibition on a state income tax. Texas is one of nine states with no income tax. Each wee…
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
November 2, 2019 at 12:29 PM

$14,623,615

$14,623,615 The five candidates in the race to be the next mayor of Houston have combined spent more than $14.6 million in their efforts to win votes. The frontrunners are incumbent Mayor Sylvester Turner an…
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
November 1, 2019 at 11:29 AM

Two mayor races you NEED to follow

Two mayor races you NEED to follow Friend, There are two mayoral races you need to know about if you're watching how money impacts power in Texas. One is Houston ⁠— with jaw-dropping sums spent by the top t…
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
October 25, 2019 at 2:44 PM

$3,670,776

$3,670,776 According to the most recent campaign finance reports, Texas Speaker of the House Dennis Bonnen controls $3,670,776 between his candidate account and Texas Leads, the PAC he established. Although …
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
October 24, 2019 at 1:17 PM

Financial Fallout from Speaker Scandal

Financial Fallout from Speaker Scandal Friend, Who wants almost $3.7 million? If it's coming from House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, Republican candidates are likely to say "no, thanks" to this political hot pota…
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  The Transparency Texas Team · [email protected]
October 17, 2019 at 10:58 PM

10

10 Secretly recorded audio released this week revealed Speaker of the House Dennis Bonnen asking Michael Quinn Sullivan of Empower Texans to “pop” (launch a primary attack against) ten Republican representat…
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