Flores slightly outraises Chet Edwards in second quarter

Both campaigns were eager to claim victory from the reports, which cover campaign finances from April through June.

Flores raised $613,142 in the quarter, edging out Edwards’ total of $609,706. The Flores campaign said the figures were especially exciting because it shows that Flores came out strong from a tough primary battle.

In a previous disclosure, Flores relied heavily on self-financing. But a Flores spokesman said the new totals included only $23,000 from the candidate and his wife, and the campaign stressed that the vast majority of the donations came from district residents.

“Every day our campaign’s momentum is growing and I am more encouraged today than ever before that we are on track to win this campaign in November,” said Flores, a retired Bryan oil and gas executive.

The Edwards campaign, meanwhile, focused on the longtime congressman’s sizable cash reserves. Edwards has more than $2.14 million cash on hand heading into prime campaigning season, while Flores has about $415,000.

Republicans have long targeted Edwards, who serves a conservative central Texas district. But Edwards’ campaign manager Alex Youn said the donations came “from a broad range of contributors, including conservative groups such as the Texas Farm Bureau Agfund and numerous Republican-leaning business leaders and groups.”

The Edwards camp also said that the $2.14 million was the largest cash reserve the congressman has ever had at this stage in a campaign cycle.

“Chet Edwards has, as always, run a focused, well-executed campaign and continues to post the strongest fundraising numbers of his career,” Youn said.

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