Republicans flood South Texas special election as national Democrats keep distance

by Patrick Svitek, Texas Tribune


Republicans are overwhelming Democrats with money and resources ahead of the June 14 special election for a South Texas-based congressional seat, eager to score an early victory in their campaign to win the traditionally blue region.

The main GOP candidate, Mayra Flores, and her allies have spent nearly $1 million on TV, while Democrats had not booked any airtime as of Friday. Meanwhile, she outraised her closest Democratic competition, Dan Sanchez, by 16-to-1 on the only major campaign finance report of the special election.

The Republican offensive has put Democrats in an unusual position in an area they have long dominated: playing the underdog. After casting his early ballot Tuesday in Harlingen, Sanchez, a Harlingen lawyer, compared the race to a David-vs.-Goliath battle — with him playing David.

At the same time, he has expressed confidence.

“We’re gonna win this June 14 without a runoff,” Sanchez said a day later at a campaign rally, also in Harlingen. “We’re gonna show those Republicans that money doesn’t buy elections in South Texas.”

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has kept its distance from the special election and downplayed the stakes, arguing the seat will remain under Democratic control after the November election regardless. But with the Republican ad dollars piling up, the DCCC launched a $100,000 digital ad buy in partnership with Sanchez's campaign that began Saturday, according to his campaign.

Read more: https://www.texastribune.org/2022/06/06/republicans-south-texas-special-election-tx-34/