Harris County Money in Politics

Campaign finance transparency for Harris County Commissioners Court

Combined War Chests
$12M
All 5 commissioners
Largest War Chest
$6.4M
Rodney Ellis (Pct 1)
Total Raised (Jan 2025)
$1.48M
Latest reporting period
County Budget
$4.7B
Controlled by Court

The Rodney Ellis Factor

Commissioner Rodney Ellis (Precinct 1) holds $6.4 million in campaign funds - more than all other Commissioners Court members combined ($5.6M). His war chest has grown consistently over the past decade, making him one of the most financially powerful local officials in Texas.

Democrats (4 seats)

$10.4M
Hidalgo, Ellis, Garcia, Briones

Republicans (1 seat)

$1.57M
Tom Ramsey (Pct 3)

War Chest Comparison

Raised vs Spent (Jan 2025)

January 2025 Campaign Finance Summary

Official Position Party Cash on Hand Raised Spent

Harris County Commissioners Court

The five-member Commissioners Court controls Harris County's $4.7 billion annual budget, serving 4.7 million residents.

Potential Conflicts of Interest

Automated detection of patterns that warrant public scrutiny. These are not accusations - but patterns that informed citizens should know about.

Massive War Chest Concentration

Rodney Ellis controls 53% of all Commissioners Court campaign funds. This concentration of financial power may influence coalition dynamics and policy decisions on the court.

Spending Deficit - County Judge

Lina Hidalgo has spent more than she's raised in multiple reporting periods, with outstanding loans of $51,400. Her cash on hand has declined from over $300K in 2020 to just $41K in 2025.

Self-Funded Campaigns (Outstanding Loans)

Why This Matters

Harris County's Commissioners Court makes decisions affecting 4.7 million residents, including a $4.7 billion annual budget. Campaign contributors to these officials may have interests in county contracts, land use decisions, and policy outcomes. Understanding the money flow is essential for accountability.

Spending vs Raising Ratio

Officials spending significantly more than they raise may indicate depleting resources or undisclosed funding sources.

Official Total Raised (All Time) Total Spent (All Time) Ratio Status
Data Sources: Campaign finance data from Off the Kuff analysis of Texas Ethics Commission filings. Lobbyist data from Harris County Clerk's Ethics System.
Last updated: January 2025. Harris County Commissioners Court controls a $4.7 billion annual budget serving 4.7 million residents.