Quick Resources: Where’s the Money in Texas Politics?

The Texas Politics Project out of UT Austin describes this issue succinctly: “money doesn't guarantee electoral success, but it is very difficult to keep winning elections without enough of it […].”

To read up on how much money is in Texas politics and where, the non-profit TransparencyTexas.org has numbers, context, and specific case studies on donors and recipients. From their “Why It Matters” page: “Someone wise once said, ‘where a man’s treasure is, there is his heart.’ If you can clearly see where Texas political candidates get their money, and if you can clearly see what they do with it, then you can also clearly see where their hearts are—and whether or not they’re really on your side.”

In 2018, with the vast majority of political money going to Texas Republicans, it remains that money is not the sole defining factor in winning votes for either party. However, the power of money to influence voters is a clear bargaining chip when it comes to making demands of politicians. As the Texas Observer pointed out back in 2012, “very rich people can donate a lot of money to influence a few voters and swing a state election.”

Staying informed about who your elected officials really represent is the best way to know your allies from your enemies when you go to the polls.

To take action on getting money out of politics: Wolf-PAC.com