As early voting begins for Texas House District 94, the contest between Republican Cheryl Bean and Democrat Katie O’Brien Duzan is shaping up as a financial showdown. The latest campaign‑finance filings, covering July 1 through September 24, show Bean out‑raising and out‑spending her opponent.
Funding sources and totals
Bean’s campaign received roughly $203,950 in total contributions. Only about $10,200 came from individual donors; the remaining $193,750 was supplied by political action committees, interest groups and other politicians’ campaigns. Two major conservative PACs played a key role: Texans for a Conservative Majority, backed by West Texas oil investors Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks, and the Texas Conservative Majority PAC, funded by Pennsylvania Republican donor Jeff Yass. Both PACs contributed thousands of dollars and provided in‑kind services such as canvassing and polling.
By contrast, Duzan’s campaign raised about $198,000. Individual contributions accounted for roughly $104,000, while PACs, groups and allied campaigns supplied about $94,000. The Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund contributed in‑kind consulting, and the Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee has paid her staff’s salary and benefits since at least July. The Texas Blueprint PAC, supported by Democratic donor Simone Otus Coxe, funded polling for Duzan.
Geographic patterns of support
Bean’s contributions came largely from within Tarrant County, reflecting strong local backing for the Republican candidate. Duzan, however, attracted a notable share of non‑PAC money from cities outside the county, though county residents still provided the largest number of individual donations.
Cash on hand entering the final stretch
Both candidates entered the last month of the campaign with substantial war chests. Duzan reported roughly $138,000 in cash on hand, while Bean held about $89,000. These funds will be used for advertising, voter outreach and get‑out‑the‑vote efforts as early voting continues.
Context of the race
District 94, which includes parts of west and central Arlington, Hurst and east Fort Worth, has been a Republican stronghold for more than a decade. Incumbent Rep. Tony Tinderholt, who has held the seat for 12 years, is not seeking re‑election, opting instead for a precinct seat on the Tarrant County Commissioners Court. The open seat has drawn attention from state‑wide party organizations. In June, the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee identified District 94 as a target race, the only one in Tarrant County on its list.
What’s next
Early voting will run through the first week of October, with the official election day slated for November 3. Voters in Arlington, Hurst and Fort Worth should watch for campaign advertisements and outreach from both sides as the candidates vie for the open House seat.
For more information on the candidates and their platforms, visit the Texas Secretary of State’s campaign‑finance portal or contact the respective campaign offices.
Original reporting: Fort Worth Report — read the source article.
