House District 76 is the western-most district in the state, running along the border with Mexico and encompassing El Paso and Fort Bliss. Since State Rep. César Blanco announced he would seek a promotion to the Texas Senate, two Democratic candidates and no Republicans have entered the race to represent this Democratic stronghold.
Claudia Ordaz Perez – Ms. Ordaz Perez serves as Mayor Pro Tempore and City Councilwoman for El Paso. A number of ethics complaints have been filed against Ordaz Perez since she announced her candidacy. All but one of the complaints were related to campaign finance reports and were dismissed this week. The remaining complaint relates to a flyer sent by Ordaz Perez in her capacity as a member of the city council. That complaint remains under review. Ordaz Perez has responded that the complaints are politically motivated. Her website lists family leave, animal welfare, healthcare, and public education as her top priorities.
Elisa Tamayo – Tamayo has worked in the offices and earned the endorsements of El Paso’s retiring State Senator Jose Rodriguez and State Rep. César Blanco, who now seeks Rodriquez’s seat. Tamayo has also been endorsed by several other state representatives. She lists defending LGBTQIA rights, fighting anti-border rhetoric, and promoting reproductive justice among her priorities.
House District 76 – By the Numbers:
| Claudia Ordaz Perez (D) | Elisa Tamayo (D) | |
| Total Money Raised: | $77,045 | $62,709 |
| Total Number Of Unique Donations: | 86 | 280 |
| Average Donation Amount: | $896 | $224 |
| Total Money Raised In-District | $1,600 | $10,959 |
| Total Number of Donations In-District | 16 | 40 |
| Percentage of All Money Raised In-District | 2% | 17% |
| Total Money Raised Outside District | $75,445 | $51,750 |
| Total Number of Donations Outside District | 70 | 240 |
| Percentage of All Money Raised Outside District | 98% | 83% |
| Total Expenditures | $69,925 | $11,200 |
| Cash On Hand | $19,019 | $33,432 |
Strictly looking at the numbers, this race is neck-and-neck.
Ordaz Perez is slightly ahead on fundraising, but Tamayo has received more donations from inside the district, frequently a harbinger of success. Tamayo also has more money in the bank which she can use to turn out the vote. Expect both candidates to go all in between now and the March 3rd primary. With no Republicans in the race, whoever wins the primary will be the new representative from El Paso.
Join us as we continue to analyze the most high-profile races in the battle for the Texas House.