HD-128 Democrat outraises Briscoe Cain after Beto endorsement

Josh Markle may be the campaign cash frontrunner for House District 128. After presidential candidate, Beto O-Rourke endorsed Markle the Deer Park Democrat raised $68,000 in one weekend. 

When Markle announced his campaign in March, he was considered a long-shot. Markle’s opponent, incumbent Briscoe Cain, ran unopposed in 2018 and was sitting on a $55,000 war chest. 

Prior to the Sept. 12 Democratic Debate, HD-128 was considered a solidly Republican seat and a low priority race. All that changed after Cain sent a threatening tweet. 

“My AR is ready for you Robert Francis,” Cain wrote, referring to his assault-style weapon and O’Rourke’s birth name. 

Cain was responding to a viral moment in the Democratic Debate when O’Rourke said, “Hell yes, we’re going to take your AR-15, your AK-47.” 

O’Rourke was answering a question about gun control. He later characterized Cain’s tweet as a “death threat” and his campaign reported it to the FBI. 

For his part, Cain used the exchange to get an appearance on Fox News — something O’Rourke claimed Cain was using as a fundraiser. 

During his appearance on Fox News, Cain was asked about his personal safety. Cain said that he had spoken with the Texas Department of Public Safety and that his family “is under protection.”