| Ed. note: The following is one of twenty races we are featuring in the Texas Political Report. Annie's List provided research and analysis for this race. Candidate Pages: Loretta Haldenwang website, on Facebook, on Twitter
Candidate Pages: Rep. Linda Harper-Brown website, on Facebook, on Twitter District Overview: The Numbers, The Issues, and the Candidates
Like many north Texas districts, in HD 105, utility rates, jobs and education are the issues most talked about. But the big elephant in the room is what’s earned Harper-Brown the nickname “Linda Harper-Benz.” Harper-Brown, who sits on the House Transportation Committee, was caught driving a Mercedes paid for by a transportation contracting company who’s received millions in contracts funneled through that very committee. Harper-Brown insists she’s done nothing wrong, but the story has stuck and websites such as http://www.lindaharperbenz.com/ have gained traction. Harper-Brown never reported the car on the mandated ethics disclosures, even as a gift, despite tagging it with her Texas government plates. Meanwhile, Harper-Brown only won last cycle by 18 votes against a candidate with minimal resources. District 105 encompasses almost the entire city of Irving, just to the west and northwest of Dallas. A mix of middle class and working class voters, Irving also is home to a growing but not yet mobilized Latino population, a trend that has accelerated since the 2000 census. Obama won the district with 51.5% of the vote in 2008, showing taht the district can be carried by a Democrat. A strong candidate in Loretta Haldenwang could be our chance to take back the seat. Why Democrats Can Upset Harper-Brown Haldenwang has had a campaign manager on the ground since 18 months out, and she’s working hard to win over voters in her district. With such a slim margin of victory in 2008, and with an even tougher opponent this year, ethically-challenged Harper-Brown has the deck stacked against her if Haldenwang can get her message out and turn out her voters. If putting state license plates on a car you never paid for and never reported after it was given to you by a company that profits from legislation you sponsored and argued for before your committee and the House isn't enough to get a Republican beat in a swing district, then what will? June 30 Campaign Finance Report: | HD 105: Haldenwang vs.Harper-Brown | Contributions
| Expenditures
| Cash on Hand
| Loretta Haldenwang (D)
| $90,989 | $67,370 | $56,261 | Rep. Linda Harper-Brown (R)
| $146,979 | $51,916
| $92,195 | Harper-Brown's Advantage
| $55,990 | - | $35,934 | |
