DALLAS — From the future of school choice in Texas to filling Congressional seats that rarely open up, the stakes are high for the March 5 election.
And if you need more proof that there’s a lot riding on the outcomes, just look at the money being spent in Texas.
Take Congressional District 26, for instance, which includes parts of Tarrant, Denton, Cooke, and Wise counties in North Texas.
Republican Michael Burgess retired, opening the seat up for the first time since 2003.
There are 11 Republicans running in the primary to replace him.
“And the money that has flown into this race, it’s mind boggling, really is. And more coming,” Republican consultant Vinny Minchillo told us on Inside Texas Politics.
Vinny Minchillo has worked on a number of political campaigns, including Mitt Romney’s and George W. Bush’s presidential campaigns.
And as a principal at Glass House Strategy, he knows all about ads and branding.
Minchillo says third parties are pouring millions of dollars into plenty of races across the state, but particularly CD 32.
You’ve likely seen some of the ads.
And you’ve certainly received some of the mailers.
“It’s a really hot race, kind of a proxy war, I guess, between some of the MAGA type Republicans and maybe the somewhat less conservative Republicans,” said Minchillo.
While the primary is hot, Minchillo thinks things will cool down come the general election in November, when he thinks the only competitive race that will generate widespread interest is for the U.S. Senate.
And even though he’s a Republican consultant, he’s watching what’s happening on the Democratic side of that race, where Congressman Colin Allred has a significant lead over the field, including state Sen. Roland Gutierrez, who is polling a distance second.
Despite that large lead, Allred is spending significant money in the primary.
And Minchillo wonders if Allred is in trouble or if he’s doing it to grow his name recognition throughout the state.
“I feel like he’s spending money to be opportunistic. I mean, his brand is sort of blah. People know him in Dallas. But outside of Dallas, people really don’t know him. So, I think he’s being opportunistic, trying to raise his name ID. I don’t really think Gutierrez is going to get within double digits of him, to be honest," Minchillo says.
Early voting for the March 5 primary runs through Friday, March 1.
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