Texas Speaker Dade Phelan has successfully defended his seat in a high-octane runoff election, fending off challenger Bryan Covey in what became the most expensive House race in the state's history. With a staggering war chest, Phelan spent over $11 million to retain his post, according to a breakdown of the campaign finances published by The Texas Tribune. Covey's effort, by contrast, was bolstered by a modest $2.1 million. In the sprint between the primary and the runoff, Phelan poured nearly a third of his funds into securing victory.
Despite the onslaught of financial firepower, what stands out in this election is the source of these copious funds. Much of the campaign dough streamed in from outside the Lone Star State's borders. Political science professor Renée Cross, of the University of Houston noted the peculiarity of such heavy outside investment. In the words of Cross, "Over $10 million for a state rep race in a very small media market, that just doesn’t happen." Phelan's financial backers included Las Vegas casino heavyweight Miriam Adelson and Jeff Yass, a Pennsylvania TikTok investor, who was behind an ad for Covey.
In a strategic move, Phelan maximized his presence through an aggressive media campaign, which included a nearly million-dollar splurge on TV ads during the runoff period, not accounting for the race's final ten days. Phelan's on-the-ground strategy employed 15 campaign staffers, dishing out $158,000 and was reinforced by a legion of volunteers who knocked on doors and labored at phone banks, he said in his victory speech.
Not only did the Speaker raise his leverage in Jefferson County, he also chipped away at Covey's stronghold in Orange County, increasing his vote share by 7 points. Covey, meanwhile, saw his support dwindle, marking a net loss of 2,400 votes in his backyard. Joe Evans, the Republican Party Chairman for Jefferson County, attributed Phelan's local success to hard work and a direct engagement with the community, while criticizing the Covey campaign for relying on "vitriol and negative attacks".
In contrast to the commonly seen downturn in turnout for runoff elections, Phelan galvanized a new wave of voters in Jefferson County. More than 6,500 locals cast their ballots for him in May, bumping up from 6,100 in the March primary. These numbers tilted the scales, granting Phelan a decisive 2 to 1 margin over his opponent in this key region.
Covey and his notable supporters, including Attorney General Ken Paxton and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, contested the results, indicating that Phelan's margin of victory came from Democratic voters taking part in the Republican Primary. Although Covey was eligible to call for a recount, trailing by under 400 votes, he conceded on Tuesday night without any conciliation. "I knocked on doors, hundreds and hundreds of doors, made calls for Dade,” said Republican Rep. Jeff Leach on Mark Davis’ radio show. “I did not speak to a single Democrat down here in HD21. Not a single one," he told The Texas Tribune.
With no Democrats in the running for the district, Phelan is set for re-election barring an unexpected third-party challenge. His victory also stands out against the backdrop of a rough night for incumbents; only one other, Gary VanDeaver of New Boston, survived the runoff among a group of eight. Phelan's edge may be attributed to his heritage. Coming from a prominent Beaumont family known for philanthropy thanks to the Texas Oil Boom, coupled with his powerful position, Phelan drew contributions from some of Texas' wealthiest business executives. These factors coalesced to not only preserve his seat but also signify his clout within the state's political landscape.
