Outside money pours into Texas House race in Irving

The race for Texas House District 105 is drawing a lot of green as Republicans fight to keep Irving red and Democrats try to turn it blue.

And nearly two-thirds of the money pouring into campaign coffers is coming from outside of the city.

The candidates disagree on the reasons for the outside contributions and what they portend for the November general election. But all four agree on one thing: The 19-vote difference two years ago has ratcheted up the importance both parties have placed on the district that covers most of Irving.

“I think certainly the outside money I’m getting is because of the statewide interest in the campaign,” said Republican Linda Harper-Brown, whose slim win in 2008 allowed her party to maintain a majority in the Texas House.

Harper-Brown raised $215,000 last year, with about 42 percent coming from outside the district. About 58 percent has come from inside Irving. She’s the only candidate with a majority of funding coming from within the district. She reports spending $168,000 in 2009. Her biggest contributor so far is Irving oil executive Ralph Ellis, who loaned her $50,000.

Harper-Brown, 61, faces no Republican challengers in the March 2 primary. But Democrats Loretta Haldenwang and Kim Limberg square off in their primary to challenge Harper-Brown in November.

Nearly 96 percent of the $135,000 that Haldenwang raised between April of last year and late January came from outside of the city, according to the most recent campaign finance reports. She reported spending $59,000 during that period. Her biggest contributor is Annie’s List. The Austin-based group aimed at electing Democratic women gave her more than $54,000.

About 66.4 percent of Limberg’s $6,400 raised between March of last year and late January came from outside the district. She has spent about $10,000. Her biggest contributor is her father, James Carroll of Mesquite, who gave her $1,100.

Early voting ends Friday.

Challengers

Limberg, 46, is a homemaker and former manager for the Texas Department of Transportation. She said the outside money in her opponent’s coffers show that Haldenwang has little support within the district.

“It’s just a political career move,” Limberg said of Haldenwang. “She’s decided it’s a hot seat to try and grab with the help of people who want her to be a pawn for them.”

Harper-Brown sees the situation similarly.

“The lack of funding from within Irving for Loretta is that she’s not as well known as Kim and I are,” Harper-Brown said.

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