Rep. Hall’s challenger loans campaign $400K

Rep. Ralph Hall (R-Texas) could have a serious primary on his hands.

Former U.S. Attorney John Ratcliffe (R) has loaned his campaign $400,000 and has $430,000 in the bank, his campaign announced Monday evening. That’s plenty to fuel a television campaign against Hall, the oldest House member.

{mosads}”The diversity and enthusiasm of my donor base reinforces what I’ve been hearing from people all over the district — that it’s time for new, energetic leadership to tackle the problems in Washington,” Ratcliffe said in a statement.

Hall, 90, has been in Congress since he won election in 1980. A former Democrat, he switched parties a decade ago and knocked back primary challenges in 2010 and 2012. Ratcliffe’s self-funding means Hall could face his best-funded challenger to date.

Hall has yet to release his fundraising numbers. He had just more than $100,000 in the bank as of the end of September.