As his mayoral tenure was winding down last year Nirenberg also launched a federal PAC<\/a> called One Community, which has raised about $25,000.<\/p>\n Abbott is one of the most prolific fundraisers<\/a> in Texas history and just hauled another $20 million<\/a> in the past six months. <\/p>\n Castro, meanwhile, is among a long list of Democrats<\/a> who\u2019ve signaled interest<\/a> in Texas\u2019 2026 U.S. Senate race. <\/p>\n GOP infighting between U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and his scandal-ridden primary challenger, Attorney General Ken Paxton, has made it an appealing opportunity for ambitious Democrats \u2014 some of whom are already raising big money for the race.<\/p>\n Campaign finance reports covering Jan. 1 through June 30, however, indicated the Westside congressman had raised about <\/a>$172,000 so far this year, and reported about $168,000 on hand. He doesn\u2019t have a PAC, according to a campaign spokesman. <\/p>\n \u201cIt seems like there\u2019s a disconnect between the rumor mill and the speculation and what\u2019s actually being raised,\u201d said San Antonio political consultant Bert Santiba\u00f1ez. \u201cThose numbers don\u2019t reflect that someone is getting ready to announce a statewide campaign.\u201d<\/p>\n Big opportunities<\/p>\n In a state where Democrats have long struggled, Castro and others believe their best shot<\/a> at cracking a statewide office is in the midterm of a Republican\u2019s presidency, when their supporters are likely to be the most engaged. <\/p>\n \u201cI think that\u2019s where everybody should go all in,\u201d Castro said on a Texas Tribune Fest panel in 2023<\/a>. \u201cThat\u2019s when you should have a very strong slate of your best candidates that are running for everything.\u201d <\/p>\n Now President Donald Trump\u2019s return has created such an opportunity this election cycle, but it\u2019s unclear whether any San Antonians will take a leading role.<\/p>\n Castro hasn\u2019t made up his mind about the U.S. Senate race, and would face a Democratic primary with former Dallas Congressman Colin Allred<\/a>, who raised tens of millions of dollars for his 2024 race against U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).<\/p>\n Another prolific fundraiser, Beto O\u2019Rourke, is also considering the U.S. Senate race.<\/p>\n \u201cWhether you like Beto O\u2019Rourke or you like Colin Allred \u2014 everyone loves one, hates one \u2014 we can all recognize what they both did is they raise about $100 million for each of their elections in order to flip the state,\u201d said Lillie Schechter a former chair of the Harris County Democratic Party, at a forum for Texas Democratic Party chair<\/a> candidates over the summer. <\/p>\n Texas state Rep. James Talarico (D-Round Rock), another potential U.S. Senate candidate, reported about $700,000<\/a> on hand.<\/p>\n \u201cAny candidate that\u2019s going to come out of San Antonio for a statewide race \u2026 you\u2019re competing with folks who are coming from other larger cities where there\u2019s just a larger donor base with much higher contribution histories,\u201d said Andrew Solano, a San Antonio-based political consultant who has also worked on many federal races.<\/p>\n The last statewide candidate San Antonio produced was Leticia Van de Putte, a former Democratic state senator who served as Democrats\u2019 nominee for lieutenant governor in 2014.<\/p>\n Given national Democrats\u2019 continued interest<\/a> in Texas, San Antonio political consultant Laura Barberena said there could still be a path in 2026 for candidates who can convince powerful outside groups, like labor unions, that they\u2019re the right person for the job.<\/p>\n \u201c[A candidate] doesn\u2019t necessarily have to have the money, because the interest groups out there may already have it,\u201d Barberena said. \u201cThey just need to pick who they\u2019re going to go with.\u201d<\/p>\n Here\u2019s an early look at the fundraising shaping up ahead of other key 2026 races.<\/p>\n Texas\u2019 20th congressional district<\/p>\n If Castro were to run for U.S. Senate instead of reelection, his left-leaning 20th congressional district<\/a> would draw interest from many local Democrats who\u2019ve had few opportunities to move up in recent years.<\/p>\n State Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer (D-San Antonio), who also represents part of the city\u2019s West Side<\/a>, is sitting on roughly $390,000<\/a> in his campaign account. <\/p>\n Bexar County Commissioner Rebeca Clay-Flores (Pct. 1), a Democrat, has about $180,000 on hand<\/a>. Clay-Flores isn\u2019t up for reelection until 2026.<\/p>\n State and county officials aren\u2019t subject to contribution limits like federal candidates are, so it\u2019s easier to raise money but they can\u2019t directly transfer it to a congressional campaign.<\/p>\n Tech entrepreneur Beto Altamirano, who finished third in the mayor\u2019s race<\/a>, has also been discussed as a potential Castro successor. He launched the Plan 210 PAC<\/a> after that race.<\/p>\n Texas\u2019 28th congressional district<\/p>\n U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Laredo) is defending one of the most targeted congressional seats in the country in 2026 \u2014 one that\u2019s also in the crosshairs of the GOP\u2019s efforts to redraw Democrat-held districts<\/a> and make them more favorable for their party. <\/p>\n Cuellar serves on the House Appropriations Committee, helping make him a prolific fundraiser for many years. But his incoming contributions plummeted last year after he was indicted and he wound up spending campaign funds on his legal defense<\/a>. <\/p>\n In the past six months Cuellar has raised about $250,000, loaned his campaign $200,000 and is currently sitting on about $360,000<\/a>. <\/p>\n His highest-raising Republican challenger, Mayra Flores raised $325,000 and has about $140,000<\/a> on hand.<\/p>\n Webb County Judge\u00a0Tano\u00a0Tijerina, a top GOP recruit with a history of self-funding<\/a>, formed an exploratory committee to consider the race but hasn\u2019t started raising money.<\/p>\n Texas House District 118<\/p>\n Nearly all of Bexar County\u2019s state lawmakers represent districts drawn solidly to favor one party. State Rep. John Lujan\u2019s (R-San Antonio) Southside district is the exception, and regularly one of the most competitive, hard-fought seats in the state. <\/p>\n Lujan was rumored to be considering a state Senate bid in 2026, but announced plans to seek reelection instead. He raised $12,500 in the last reporting period, and reported about $26,000 in the bank<\/a>. <\/p>\n Lujan appears headed to a rematch with Democrat Kristian Carranza<\/a>, who was one of Texas Democrats\u2019 biggest fundraisers on the House map last cycle. She raised $53,000 and has about $42,000<\/a> in the bank. <\/p>\n Texas House District 121 <\/p>\n Freshman state Rep. Marc LaHood (R-San Antonio) is raising big money after finding himself at the center of a high-profile dispute<\/a> with powerful GOP lobbying interests who\u2019ve threatened a potential primary opponent this year.<\/p>\n LaHood helped shut down bills the deep-pocketed business group Texans for Lawsuit Reform wanted, but he\u2019s amassed nearly $1.3 million<\/a> headed into his first reelection race, thanks in part to big checks from the trial lawyers who stand to benefit from the move.<\/p>\n Bexar County races<\/p>\n Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai, who is running for a second four-year term in 2026, is sitting on $435,000<\/a>. It\u2019s unclear whether any fellow Democrats will challenge him, though several have been rumored to be considering it.<\/p>\n Two Bexar County Commissioner seats, Precinct 2 and Precinct 4, both represented by longtime Democratic incumbents, will also be on the ballot.<\/p>\n Commissioner Justin Rodriguez (Pct. 2) has close to $1 million banked<\/a> in his campaign account. Commissioner Tommy Calvert (Pct. 4) has about $145,000<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Bexar County District Attorney race will be one of hottest local races, now that incumbent Democrat Joe Gonzales isn\u2019t seeking reelection<\/a>. <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Brenda-Bazan-Joaquin-Castro-Town-Hall-Beto-ORourke.jpg\")
U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro speaks at a Town Hall on Stable Hall on Friday June 27. Credit: Brenda Baz\u00e1n \/ San Antonio Report<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1753009211_833_Beto-ORourke-17.jpeg\")
Former San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg, State Rep. James Talarico, U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro and Beto O\u2019Rourke appeared together at a town hall at the Stable Hall last month. Credit: Brenda Baz\u00e1n \/ San Antonio Report<\/p>\n![\"Leticia](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/988756_10201543802494113_637257275_n.jpg\")
Leticia Van de Putte waves to a crowd of supporters, announcing her bid for lieutenant governor Nov. 23, 2013. Photo by Lindsay Rodriguez.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ScottBall_congressman-henry-cuellar-congress-manuel-medina-tommy-adkisson-democratic-party-texas-pol.jpeg\")
U.S. Rep Henry Cuellar greets guests at the opening of his San Antonio campaign office ahead of the 2022 election. Credit: Scott Ball \/ San Antonio Report<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Brenda-Bazan-commissioners-court-project-marvel-bobby-perez-5.jpg\")
Bexar County Commissioner Justin Rodriguez (Pct. 2), left, and Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai, right, are shown at a commissioners\u2019 court meeting. Credit: Brenda Baz\u00e1n \/ San Antonio Report<\/p>\n