By R.J. Morales | TX3DNews
No fundraising network. No real budget. No traditional campaign structure.
Emeka Eluka ran in the Texas House District 67 Democratic primary with less than $2,000—and still pulled more than 6,500 votes.
“I had to bring in my own personal money to help in the day-to-day activities,” he said. “My strategy was to spend as little as possible because it was only the primary at this point.”
Building a Campaign Without Funding
Emeka said the lack of resources shaped nearly every part of his campaign.
“I did not have the right team early enough to help me go ask for money and I did not have a good campaign manager willing to jump up to help,” he said. “I paid him $500 from my pocket but I did not get my money’s worth.”
Without funding or a team in place, the campaign never built early momentum.
“It gets to a point where you begin to realize that a lot of money is needed for you to get any kind of loyalty in this game,” he said.
He said that gap showed up in how campaigns operate behind the scenes.
“It affected me a lot because it kills your spirit when you have so much to give, but if your campaign team has other candidates that have money, they leave you by the side,” he said.
Campaigning Without the Usual Playbook
Emeka said his campaign skipped many of the basics most voters assume happen in a race.
“I did not knock on a single door and never had the data where the Democratic candidates lived,” he said. “And I still got almost 50% of the votes.”
He also stepped back from a traditional campaign structure during the race.
“I dissolved my team and did not ask for money or funds, all while I endorsed the other candidate initially,” he said.
“I am happy in what I was able to achieve doing this all by myself,” he added.
Not Just One Campaign
That type of campaign isn’t limited to one race.
In a separate contest, Jacqueline Bescherer reported about $1,700 in total contributions, most of it coming from small-dollar donors giving between $40 and $250.
After the primary, she described her campaign as grassroots-driven and said it operated on “only $2,000.”
Different district, similar reality: limited funding, small donor pools, and little room to expand beyond basic outreach.
What They’re Running Against
Now put that next to the other side.
In the same reporting period, Jeff Leach reported more than $466,000 in political contributions. Much of that came from PACs covering campaign activity—digital ads, mail, and messaging—along with multiple $5,000 and $10,000 contributions from industry-backed donors. One of the larger individual donations was $10,000 from Buc-ee’s owner Don Wasek. Leach went on to win the Republican nomination.
The same pattern appears in other races. In another Republican primary, Keresa Richardson reported large PAC-backed funding, including six-figure support from a trial lawyer–aligned group, and also secured her party’s nomination.
That kind of backing shapes a campaign early. Ads are paid for. Data is in place. Outreach is funded. For candidates without it, the starting point is different—no paid data, limited outreach, and fewer ways to expand.
Both appear on the same ballot, but they are not running under the same conditions.
Texas House members earn $7,200 a year, plus a per diem during session. The role still carries influence over state policy—and that’s where the money shows up.
Election Results
The primary results themselves were clear.
In District 67, Jordan Wheatley secured the Democratic nomination, with Emeka Eluka falling short despite running a low-funded campaign.
A similar outcome played out in District 61, where Brittany Black won the nomination. Jacqueline Bescherer, whose campaign is referenced above, also ran with limited resources, while Black held an advantage in fundraising.
Looking Ahead
Emeka said his campaign wasn’t just about this election.
“In conclusion, this was to get ready for 2028,” he said.
He also said he would approach things differently next time.
“I will start early and make sure I have a good contract with any campaign management group that I get,” he said.
His campaign offers a clear example of what it looks like to run without financial backing—and what that means when placed next to campaigns that have it.
Editor’s note
Campaign finance reports are filed with the Texas Ethics Commission and reflect activity within specific reporting periods. Totals may not capture all activity outside those reporting windows.
Update: Primary Election Results (April 28, 2026)
This article has been updated to clarify the outcomes of the referenced primary elections.
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