Dukes lags as top rivals raise, spend in primary

Cole, Vela are unloading their coffers in advance of Tuesday’s election.

While her two biggest challengers continue to raise and spend money in the final countdown to the Democratic primary election, state Rep. Dawnna Dukes continues to do little of both.

Dukes brought in $10,000 and spent about $12,000, according to a campaign finance report that covers a 30-day period that ended Saturday. The report is in line with previous ones from this election season that revealed little activity from Dukes, a 12-term lawmaker who has blamed fundraising shortcomings on her 2017 criminal corruption case in Travis County. Dukes said banking institutions refused to work with her after she was indicted in connection to allegations that she falsified travel vouchers and used her legislative staff for personal reasons.

All charges against Dukes were dropped in October 2017.

“I have a plan and my plan is still in action,” Dukes said Wednesday.

The report showed Dukes’ campaign has a loan balance of $831,321, with most of it to cover legal fees related to the corruption charges, she said.

Meanwhile, two of her opponents in the House District 46 race are unloading their coffers in advance of Tuesday’s primary election. Sheryl Cole — a former Austin City Council member who has received endorsements from state Sen. Kirk Watson, Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt and U.S. Rep Lloyd Doggett — spent more than $54,000 in the latest reporting period, with much of it going toward printing expenses for promotional materials. Jose