AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) - Texas gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis' momentum somewhat slowed in the opening weeks of January, as she raised less than $1 million in contributions - an amount her Republican counterpart more than tripled.
As previously reported, from July 1 to Dec. 31, the Democratic state senator raised $12.2 million, $700,000 more than her Republican competitor, Attorney General Greg Abbott.
One of the reasons Davis out-earned Abbott in that six-month span was a $1 million contribution made by Houston attorney Steve Mostyn on Dec. 31.
Campaign finance reports show the Mostyn Law Firm continued to fuel Davis' run by making around a dozen contributions in the month of January.
According to the Texas Ethics Commission, from Jan. 1 to Jan. 23, Davis raised a total of $914,274.24 across three fundraising entities: Wendy R. Davis for Governor, Wendy R. Davis, and the Texas Victory Committee.
Conversely, Texans for Greg Abbott hauled in $3,130,779.07 in campaign contributions in that three-week timespan, giving the attorney general nearly $30 million cash on hand.
However, Davis does have financial backing from a beloved Texas athlete, as she received a $10,000 donation from former Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith on Jan. 8, TEC's report shows.
From Legal Newsline: Reach David Yates at elections@legalnewsline.com.