The race for Texas House District 37, historically a reliable seat for Democrats, was arguably the most interesting upset in the 2018 Texas primary.

During the March primary, State Representative Rene Oliveira faced off against challengers Arturo Alonzo, an Iraq war veteran, and Cameron County Commissioner, Alex Dominguez. The incumbent Oliveira netted only 48% of the primary vote, forcing him into to a runoff with Dominguez. While Dominguez and Oliveira are both attorneys, the similarities end there. Dominguez capitalized on their age difference, asserting on his campaign website, “It’s time we had a state representative who not only wants to lead but has the energy to fight for you in Austin,” a nod to the incumbent’s 60+ years of age in contrast to Dominguez’s youth. He comically added, “Rene Oliveira has been in office since before AOL.”

Here’s a quick look at the numbers:

Oliveira has held this seat in the Texas Legislature for 34 years. This longevity makes Chairman Oliveira (he is the current Chairman of the House Committee on Business and Industry) the fifth most senior legislator out of the 150-members House of Representatives. His loss will leave a hole in the Texas House Democrat caucus; time will tell if Dominguez will be the one to step in and fill the void.

Key Takeaways from the HD 37 Race:

1. An incumbent was ousted with very little money.
   Campaign finance records show that Dominguez raised only $24,143 to defeat a 34-year veteran of the Texas House, including a runoff campaign. Yet records reflect that he spent $125,813. It’s not uncommon for a candidate to spend his or her own money on their campaign, but usually those amounts are reported as a loan from the candidate to his/her campaign account. There are no such loans reflected so far. This discrepancy — that spending dramatically outpaced income — may be explained when the semi-annual reports (due July 15) are released. Rio Grande Texans may get a more complete picture of exactly who helped finance Dominguez’s bid — Dominguez himself or someone else.
2. Austin PACs tried to save the incumbent.
   Oliveira reported only sixteen in-district donors during the entire cycle, but most Austin lobbyists fell in line to support the very-senior Democrat chairman. Even PACs that tend to spend most of their time on Republican races, including the Texas Farm Bureau, the Texas Medical Association PAC, and Texans for Lawsuit Reform came to his aide.  Not surprisingly, industries that have business in front of the House Committee on Business and Industry donated to Chairman Oliveira, from the Wholesale Beer Distribution Alliance to the Texas Funeral Association PAC.
3. Scandals are hard to overcome.
   On Friday night, April 27, 2018, which fell between the March primary and the May runoff election, Rep. Oliveira was arrested for DWI after leaving the scene where he rear-ended another car. No doubt his arrest was a factor in his election loss. According to reports, Oliveira was driving a “dark-colored Cadillac.” Campaign reports show Chairman Oliveira was financing a car from General Motors Finance Company out of his campaign account. It’s hard not to wonder if the car he was driving at the time of the accident was the one being financed with donors’ money.

Before you go…

One of the most interesting donations Oliveira received was from Texas Oil and Gas Association, to the tune of $4,000. While TXOGA usually spends most of it’s time investing in Republican campaigns, they still occasionally play in Democrat races. What’s surprising is TXOGA’s support of Oliveira despite what many pro-energy observers would argue is an abysmal record. One such highlight is his vote during the 2017 Legislative Session to require the Commission to hold a public hearing every time a proposed injection well was located in a large municipality – a measure energy producers argued was meant simply to create red tape and slow production. With donations to candidates who vote like this, TXOGA supporters might start asking questions.

Our Race to Raise series takes a deeper look at the most high-profile races of the election cycle, focusing specifically on money raised by those seeking to serve in public office. Stay tuned for the next installment.