Political ads · 2026 · TX

Texas House District 36 2026: the ads, and who's paying for them

Brian Babin won · 53.6% to 46.4% · Called by AP on Nov 4

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Brian Babin (Republican) and Rhonda Hart (Democrat) are the nominees for Texas's 36th congressional district in the November 3, 2026 general election. Brian Babin is the incumbent. By their latest FEC reports, Brian Babin's campaign had raised $1.2 million (through October 14, 2026) and Rhonda Hart's campaign $24,000 (through September 30, 2026). Outside groups have reported $9,000 for Brian Babin and $0 against.

Brian Babin (REP, incumbent), Rhonda Hart (DEM). 1 other filed with the FEC; any ads they ran are below. 0 ads analyzed, 0 with at least one technique in the copy. Newest first. The paid-for-by line is the advertiser's own filing.

Voting in Austin? 10 local ballot measures → The ballot wording read for rhetorical techniques, and who is paying for and against each.

How to vote in Texas

From Texas's official election office. Each line links to the official page it came from.

Registration	Register by Mon, Oct 5 (30th day before Election Day, moved to the next business day. Mailed applications must be postmarked by the deadline. New registrations are on paper; online is only for updating an existing record.) (passed)Source: votetexas.gov ↗
Early voting in person	Mon, Oct 19 to Fri, Oct 30 (passed)Source: sos.state.tx.us ↗
By mail	Mail voting needs a reason the state accepts (Only these voters qualify: away from the county, sick or disabled, expecting to give birth within 3 weeks of Election Day, 65 or older, or confined in jail or involuntary civil commitment); request a ballot by Fri, Oct 23 (Must be received by this date; a postmark does not count); return it by Tue, Nov 3 (Received by 7 pm on Election Day, or postmarked by 7 pm on Election Day and received by 5 pm on Nov 4) (passed)Source: sos.state.tx.us ↗Source: votetexas.gov ↗
Election Day	Tue, Nov 3. Polls: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (passed)Source: votetexas.gov ↗
ID at the polls	One of 7 acceptable photo IDs. A voter who cannot reasonably get one may sign a Reasonable Impediment Declaration and show supporting ID instead.Source: votetexas.gov ↗

Check your registration and polling place ↗ Texas's official election site ↗

Checked October 6, 2026. Rules can change; confirm with the official site before you go.

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Money in this race

From FEC filings for 2025–26. Outside spending is money a group spends on its own about a candidate — TV and online ads, mail, canvassing. It is not a donation to the campaign, and the candidate does not control it. Supporting means it was spent to help that candidate win; Opposing means it was spent to defeat them, usually on attack ads. Groups report it within 24 or 48 hours as the election nears. Raised is the campaign's own fundraising, as of its latest quarterly report. Largest donors come from each outside spender's own FEC receipts, with each donor's share of its itemized receipts; donors under $100,000 are not named. People are shown with the employer and occupation they reported. A donor that is itself a political committee is shown with its own largest donors. Companies and nonprofits don't report their funders to the FEC, so the trail ends there, and the page says so.

Brian Babin (REP, incumbent)

Raised: $1.2M through 2026-10-14 individuals $267K · PACs $532K · from the candidate's other committees $359K · cash on hand $928K
Outside spending: $9,113 supporting Babin · latest reported 2026-10-14
Largest outside spenders: NRA VICTORY FUND, INC. — $9,113 supporting Babin

Bundled through PACs: $11K through 1 PAC · FEC bulk data of 2026-11-01 AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE — $11K from 17 gifts Lobbyist/registrant PAC

143 PACs gave directly — alphabetical; the legal limit is $5,000 per election

AGC POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,000
AGSHF CIVIC ACTION COMMITTEE $1,500
AIRBUS AMERICAS PAC $2,500
ALLIED PILOTS ASSOCIATION PAC $2,500
AMALGAMATED TRANSIT UNION - COPE $5,000
AMAZON CORPORATE, LLC SEPARATE SEGREGATED FUND (AMAZON.COM PAC) $3,500
AMENTUM HOLDINGS, INC. PAC (AMENTUM PAC) $3,500
AMERICA'S ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES PAC $1,000
AMERICA'S MOUNTAIN PAC $3,500
AMERICAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (SKINPAC) $2,000
AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $5,000
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF NEUROLOGICAL SURGEONS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (NEUROSURGERYPAC) $2,500
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY PAC $10K
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ORTHODONTISTS PAC (AAOPAC) $7,500
AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION PAC $2,000
AMERICAN CHEMISTRY COUNCIL PAC $10K
AMERICAN COMMERCIAL BARGE LINE LLC PAC $1,000
AMERICAN COUNCIL OF ENGINEERING COMPANIES (ACEC PAC) $2,500
AMERICAN DENTAL ASSOCIATION PAC $5,000
AMERICAN FUELS & PETROCHEMICAL MANUFACTURERS PAC $1,000
AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS PAC $2,500
AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE PAC $5,000
AMERICAN MARITIME OFFICERS VOLUNTARY POLITICAL ACTION FUND $2,000
AMERICAN OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATION PAC $3,500
AMERICAN RELOADED $2,500
AMERICAN WATERWAYS OPERATORS PAC $2,500
AMERICANS FOR RESPONSIBLE INNOVATION LTD. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (ARI PAC) $2,500
ANTI-WOKE FUND $10K
ARKEMA INC POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $2,000
ASSOCIATED BUILDERS & CONTRACTORS PAC $5,000
ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN RAILROADS (RAIL PAC) $1,000
ASTRO PAC $1,500
AXIOM SPACE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $3,500
BAE SYSTEMS INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (BAE SYSTEMS USA PAC) $2,000
BEEF PAC $2,000
BLESSEY MARINE SERVICES, INC. PAC $1,000
BLUE ORIGIN LLC PAC $4,500
BNSF RAILPAC $2,000
BOOZ ALLEN HAMILTON INC. PAC $3,000
BWX TECHNOLOGIES, INC. PAC $1,000
CALPINE CORPORATION PAC $1,500
CATERPILLAR INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (CATPAC) $2,500
CELANESE CORP PAC $2,500
CEMEX, INC. EMPLOYEES PAC $2,500
CHENIERE ENERGY INC. PAC $7,500
COMMERCIAL SPACE PAC $2,500
COMMITTEE FOR ADVANCEMENT OF COTTON $2,500
COVESTRO PAC $2,500
CRH AMERICAS, INC. PAC $1,000
CSX CORPORATION GOOD GOVERNMENT FUND $2,000
CULAC THE PAC OF CREDIT UNION NATIONAL ASSOCIATION $3,500
DAVID ROUZER FOR CONGRESS $2,000
DELL TECHNOLOGIES, INC. PAC $5,000
DELTA AIR LINES PAC $1,000
DOW INC. PAC (DOWPAC) $3,000
EMMER FOR CONGRESS $2,000
EMPLOYEES OF NORTHROP GRUMMAN PAC $5,000
EMPLOYEES OF RTX CORPORATION PAC $5,000
ENERGY MARKETERS OF AMERICA $1,000
ENTERGY CORPORATION EMPLOYEE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (ENPAC) $2,500
EXXONMOBIL PAC $5,000
GENERAL ATOMICS PAC $3,500
GREAT LAKES DREDGE & DOCK COMPANY PAC $1,000
GREENBERG TRAURIG PAC $2,500
HAWKEYE 360 EMPLOYEE ACTION FUND $1,000
HF SINCLAIR POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (DINO PAC) $1,000
HOLLAND & KNIGHT COMMITTEE FOR EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT $1,000
HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL PAC $10K
HOUSE CONSERVATIVES FUND $1,000
HOUSTON PILOTS PAC $3,300
IBAT FEDPAC $1,000
IN THE ARENA PAC $5,000
INDEPENDENT INSURANCE AGENTS & BROKERS OF AMERICA, INC. PAC $1,000
INVESTMENT COMPANY INSTITUTE PAC $2,500
JIM JORDAN FOR CONGRESS $4,000
K&L GATES LLP PAC $1,000
KOCHPAC $4,500
L3 HARRRIS TECHNOLOGIES, INC PAC $3,500
LEAN FORWARD AMERICA FUND $3,500
LEIDOS, INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $2,000
LOCKHEED MARTIN EMPLOYEES' PAC $6,000
LUBRIZOL CORP. EMPLOYEES PAC $2,500
LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY PAC $7,500
MARATHON PETROLEUM CORPORATION EMPLOYEES PAC $2,500
MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES INC PAC / FKA SPACE SYSTEMS / LORAL INC PAC $2,000
MORAN TOWING CORPORATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,000
NATIONAL APARTMENT ASSOCIATION NAA PAC $3,500
NATIONAL ASPHALT PAVEMENT ASSOCIATION PAC $2,000
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BROADCASTERS PAC $1,000
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HOME BUILDERS (BUILD PAC) $1,500
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS PAC $5,000
NATIONAL AUTOMOBILE DEALERS ASSOCATION PAC $5,000
NATIONAL BEER WHOLESALERS ASSOCIATION $5,000
NATIONAL MULTIFAMILY HOUSING COUNCIL AND REAL ESTATE TECHNOLOGY AND TRANSFORMATION CENTER $1,000
NATIONAL SHOOTING SPORTS FOUNDATION PAC $2,838
NATIONAL VENTURE CAPITAL ASSOCIATION VENTUREPAC $1,000
NORFOLK SOUTHERN CORPORATION GOOD GOVERNMENT FUND $2,000
NRA POLITICAL VICTORY FUND $1,000
NRG ENERGY INC. PAC $2,000
OCCIDENTAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION PAC (OXYPAC) $5,000
ONEOK EMPLOYEES PAC $2,000
PERATON PAC $2,500
PHILLIPS 66 POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $2,500
PLAINS ALL AMERICAN PAC $1,000
RALPH NORMAN FOR CONGRESS $2,500
RAPTOR PAC $4,000
RELATIVITY SPACE PAC $1,000
RELX INC. PAC $2,500
REPUBLICANS UNITED TO DEFEND YOU PAC $1,000
ROCKET LAB USA, INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (ROCKET LAB PAC) $2,500
RUDY FOR INDIANA $4,000
SAFARI CLUB INTERNATIONAL PAC $2,500
SCHWAN PAC $2,500
SCIENCE APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION VOLUNTARY PAC $1,000
SCITECHPAC $4,500
SEAL PAC $2,000
SIEMENS CORPORATION PAC $1,000
SIERRA SPACE CORPORATION PAC $2,500
SPACE COAST LEADERSHIP PAC $5,000
SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP. PAC $10K
TEXAS AND SOUTHWESTERN CATTLE RANCHERS ASSOCIATION $3,500
TEXAS FARM BUREAU AGFUND, INC. (FEDERAL) $9,611
TEXAS FORESTRY ASSOCIATION PAC $500
THE BOEING COMPANY PAC $10K
THE CONTINUUM FUND OF ZACHRY HOLDINGS, INC. PAC $1,500
THE COUNCIL OF INSURANCE AGENTS & BROKERS PAC $1,000
THE HOME DEPOT INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $5,000
THE SOCIETY OF THORACIC SURGEONS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,000
THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, INC. PAC $5,000
TRINITY INDUSTRIES EMPLOYEE PAC, INC. $7,000
TRUCKING PAC (TRUCK PAC) $1,000
UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION FUND FOR EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT $2,000
UNITED AIRLINES, INC. PAC $2,000
UNITED PARCEL SERVICE INC. PAC $2,500
UNITED PILOTS PAC/UNITED AIRLINES MASTER EXECUTIVE COUNCIL $2,500
VALERO PAC $5,000
VAN SCOYOC ASSOCIATES, INC. PAC $3,053
VARDA SPACE INDUSTRIES PAC $3,500
VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PAC $1,000
VIASAT, INC. PAC (VIASAT PAC) $1,000
VOYAGER PAC $1,000
WEST GULF MARITIME ASSC. PAC $1,000
Y COMBINATOR MANAGEMENT, LLC POLITICAL COMMITTEE (LITTLE TECH PAC) $1,000

All filings at the FEC ↗

Rhonda Hart (DEM)

Raised: $24K through 2026-09-30 individuals $24K · PACs $0 · cash on hand $5,935
Outside spending: none reported

Bundled through PACs: none reported · FEC bulk data of 2026-11-01

All filings at the FEC ↗

No campaign ads analyzed for this race yet.

What this page is

An ad is on this page because its own "Paid for by" line is a campaign in this race; or it comes from a national Senate group and ran mostly in TX; or it ran mostly in TX and names a candidate — unless its sponsor is a campaign for some other office. Ads from outside groups appear alongside the campaigns' own.
Campaigns run one text as many separate ads. Identical text from the same sponsor is one card here, marked with its number of variants.
A technique is a specific rhetorical move in the wording, found by our model and explained in one line. It is not a claim that the ad is false.
Claims are checked when a reader asks: press "Check this ad's claims" on a card. Running a check and seeing its verdicts are part of Semblen Pro, because each check costs money to run; anyone can see which claims an ad makes. The ten ads with the most money behind them in each race are checked ahead of time.
Claim verdicts say what the cited sources say. A verdict that an ad is wrong or misleading is shown only when it cites an established fact-checker or an institutional record — Congress, a federal agency, a court — and its confidence is not low; a weaker one is not shown at all. Each verdict shows what it rests on and how confident it is. If we got one wrong, press Disagree: a verdict that readers dispute and no one defends comes down.
Video ads come from the campaigns' own YouTube channels; the transcript is analyzed. Meta ads are analyzed on their text; their video and images are not, yet.