Republican Bo French raised about $748,000 from Sept. 25 to Oct. 24, his second-highest reporting period since launching his campaign for Texas Railroad Commissioner, according to the latest reports. He spent nearly $1 million and reported $434,508 cash on hand and a $100,000 loan. His largest donors include oil and gas executive Richard Sands, who gave $200,000, and Texas United for a Conservative Majority, a political action committee, which gave $300,000. At least $600,000 has gone toward TV ads and mailers.
Democrat Jon Rosenthal, a state representative from Cypress, raised $524,245 in the period, his largest so far, bringing his total above $1 million. He reported $561,552 cash on hand. Donors include Susan Sarofim, who gave $100,000, and attorney R. Stephen McNally, who gave $40,000.
The Texas Oil and Gas Association's political group and the state's largest oil companies did not appear in the report. French said in September that the association had endorsed him. On Monday, the association released its endorsements without his name. The association has not publicly withdrawn its support, the report said, despite condemning French's comments last month.
The winner will fill a vacant seat on the three-member, all-Republican Railroad Commission, which regulates oil and gas production and issues environmental violations. Polls show the candidates are neck and neck.