Texas Municipal Elections Are May 3rd!
Well, as I write this we are multiple days into early voting for municipal elections across the state of Texas. Election Day is May 3rd. I’m going to follow a bit of money in the City of Fort Worth City Council races to show you how a few players can influence races.
Before I jump into money, let’s understand recent voting history in these elections.
2017 - With 408,721 registered voters, 33,872 voted for Mayor, an 8.29% turnout, with winner Betsy Price receiving 23,219 votes
2019 - With 434,028 registered voters, 39,261 voted for Mayor, a 9.05% turnout, with winner Betsy Price receiving 21,629 votes
2021 - With 535,257 registered voters, 66,658 voted for Mayor, a 12.45% turnout, with the race moving to a June runoff
2023 - With 586,850 registered voters, 42,283 voted for Mayor, a 7.2% turnout, with winner Mattie Parker receiving 29,345
And all of the council races see similar turnouts, and vote totals for winners at less than 5,000 votes. It’s kind of mind-boggling how low the turnout is for races that are the closest to you. And these numbers are Fort Worth, one of the largest cities in Texas. The turnout % isn’t markedly different in races across the state.
Ok, to the money in Fort Worth council races!
I’m focused on contributions from those giving $2,500 or more, and I’m including contributions from the Semi-January, 30 Day Before, and 8 Day Before campaign finance reports.
Here is an overall money map.
District 2
Carlos Flores
Total Contributions: $113,515
Contributions of $2,500 or more: $77,399 from 16 contributors
Joe Ponce Jr.
Total Contributions: $6,757.67
Contributions of $2,500 or more: $4,817.67 from 1 Loan
District 3
Jason Ballman
Total Contributions: $20,149.75
Contributions of $2,500 or more: Zero
Michael Crain
Total Contributions: $170,750
Contributions of $2,500 or more: $97,500 from 26 Contributors
District 4
Charlie Lauersdorf
Total Contributions: $60,816.32
Contributions of $2,500 or more: $41,420 from 8 Contributors
Teresa Ramirez
Total Contributions: $1,720
Contributions of $2,500 or more: Zero
District 5
Ken Bowens Jr
Total Contributions: Zero
Contributions of $2,500 or more: Zero
Marvin Jose Diaz
Total Contributions: Zero
Contributions of $2,500 or more: Zero
Mary Kelleher
Total Contributions: $27,621
Contributions of $2,500 or more: $18,000 from 4 Contributors
Michael Moore
Total Contributions: $105,817.28
Contributions of $2,500 or more: $97,764 from 8 Contributors
Deborah Peoples
Total Contributions: $54,638
Contributions of $2,500 or more: $26,000 from 5 Contributors
Bob Willoughby
Total Contributions: $8,029
Contributions of $2,500 or more: $8,029 from the Candidate (Self-Funding)
District 6
Daryl R. Davis II
Total Contributions: $26,035
Contributions of $2,500 or more: $5,000 from 2 Contributors
Dr. Mia Hall
Total Contributions: $25,080
Contributions of $2,500 or more: $10,000 from 3 Contributors
Marshall Hobbs
Total Contributions: $21,990
Contributions of $2,500 or more: $21,000 from 3 Contributors
Adrian Smith
Total Contributions: Zero
Contributions of $2,500 or more: Zero
District 7
Macy Hill
Total Contributions: $218,337.67 (WITH NO OPPONENT)
Contributions of $2,500 or more: $138,044 from 28 Contributors
District 8
Payton Jackson
Total Contributions: $220
Contributions of $2,500 or more: Zero
Arthur McCoy Jr.
Total Contributions: $12,042.96
Contributions of $2,500 or more: Zero
Chris Nettles
Total Contributions: $57,516
Contributions of $2,500 or more: $44,500 from 5 Contributors
District 9
Elizabeth Beck
Total Contributions: $151,150
Contributions of $2,500 or more: $80,100 from 11 Contributors
Michael Raulerson
Total Contributions: Zero
Contributions of $2,500 or more: Zero
Jenny Stewart
Total Contributions: $91,893.84
Contributions of $2,500 or more: $58,500 from 2 Contributors
District 10
Alan Blaylock
Total Contributions: $47,857
Contributions of $2,500 or more: $35,000 from 8 Contributors
District 11
Hilda Cuzco
Total Contributions: Zero
Contributions of $2,500 or more: Zero
Christopher Johnson
Total Contributions: $450
Contributions of $2,500 or more: Zero
Jeanette Martinez
Total Contributions: $42,700
Contributions of $2,500 or more: $17,500 from 4 Contributors
Mayor of Fort Worth
Donnell Ballard
Total Contributions: Zero
Contributions of $2,500 or more: Zero
Alyson Kennedy
Total Contributions: Zero
Contributions of $2,500 or more: Zero
Jeremy F. Labelle
Total Contributions: Zero
Contributions of $2,500 or more: Zero
Josh Lucas
Total Contributions: $4,702
Contributions of $2,500 or more: Zero
Mattie Parker
Total Contributions: $884,631.59 (WOW)
Contributions of $2,500 or more: $713,625 from 102 Contributors (Double WOW)
Lawrence E. Walker II
Total Contributions: Zero
Contributions of $2,500 or more: Zero
Chris Wood
Total Contributions: Zero
Contributions of $2,500 or more: Zero
Millennium Anton C. Woods Jr
Total Contributions: Zero
Contributions of $2,500 or more: Zero
So, let’s come back to the full map. See how some of the big money players push money straight to candidates, but also to PACs who then push to the same candidates?
Coalition for the Fort
Good Government Fund
Accountable Government Fund
For The Children PAC
Remember, this is the map from the top.
And here is the full map that has the other candidates who aren’t connected into the rest of the big donors. It’s pretty stark.
It’s the same playbook that has been followed at the state level, played out locally. Millionaires and billionaires deciding who is “deserving”, playing on low information voters and even lower turnout to try and pull the strings on our elections.
We only get our government working for us if we put in the work and show up to vote. Money shouldn’t dictate winners and losers of our elections. Ideas should.
See it. Name it. Fight it.
Outstanding and concerning visuals 😵💫
wow