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Campaign Finance

Reform Austin is dedicated to increasing transparency by engaging and educating taxpayers about what goes on behind the doors of our state Capitol. Our mission is to ensure our elected leaders are working for the public good. 
Campaign finance is all about money in politics and the corrupting influence it has. Reform Austin provides investigative reporting on who is funding campaigns, how much candidates are receiving, and how it influences votes. This includes the millions of dollars in special interest cash that pour into campaign coffers, and the lobbyists and political action committees (PACs) who contribute with the expectation that legislators will vote for them, rather than for their constituents. 
Campaign finance reports are filed semi-annually with the Texas Ethics Commission and are made available to the public. During election years, candidates must file two additional pre-election reports: one 30 days prior and one eight days prior to an election. 
These reports are comprised of total political contributions (the total amount of money a candidate or officeholder raised in the last six months), total expenditures (the total amount of money a candidate or officeholder spent in the last six months), and cash on hand (the total amount of money a candidate has to spend).
Contributions tell us who donated to a candidate or officeholder. They often speak to the motivations the person might have should they be elected. 
Reform Austin also reports on legislation, laws, and reforms concerning campaign finance, such as closing loopholes in the moratorium to give taxpayers more confidence in their representatives. Elected officials should be looking out for us, not their big donors.

Big insurance companies feel safe with Steve Allison

The question is, given all the special interest money he is receiving, who will Steve Allison represent in Austin - his contributors or Texas homeowners?

Campaign Contributions Kick Off This Week

Few Texans realize the extent of political contributions across the state. Most of the contributions are used for candidates and officeholders to...

How Much Did Rochelle Garza Raise In 2022?

Paxton’s adversary, Democrat Rochelle Garza, was able to outraise him in the race for Attorney General, with $518,054.10. A civil rights attorney,...

Latest Campaign Finance Reports Shed Light Ahead of 2020 House Primaries

New campaign finance reports released this week by primary candidates for the Texas House show many of the hotly contested races remain...

Who’s on the Frequent (Delinquent) Filer List?

If there’s anyone in Texas who should follow the law above all others, it’s the politicians in Austin. While Texans struggle to...

Mike Schofield is financed by a man accused of sexually harassing his employee

If dirty money is enough for these elected officials to turn a blind eye to their moral obligations, what else will they look the other way for?

Patrick Flaunts His 2.2M Raised: “Texans Are Voting With Their Checkbooks”

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick continues to lead in the polls for the election in November, with a war chest sufficient enough to...

Don Huffines helps keep Austin rigged

State Senator Don Huffines is just another part of the rigged political system in Austin - taking special interest money, voting to relax the rules on himself, and sticking it to everyday Texans.

Tony Dale doesn't listen to Texans

As long as the business lobbyists have their deals and willing politicians like Tony Dale, our taxes will go up and our services will suffer.

Texas House Democrats Launch Red to Blue Campaign

The Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee has launched what it is dubbing the 2020 Red to Blue Campaign, a new initiative to...

Campaign Finance Must Read