Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz was outraised by his Democratic challenger by more than $2.5 million in the second quarter of 2024, according to newly released campaign finance fillings.
Between April and June 2024, Cruz raised $7.9 million, according to the figures, against $10.5 million for Democratic Representative Colin Allred who is hoping to unseat him in November. However, Cruz’s campaign does have more money available in total than Allred’s, with $12.1 million against $10.4 million.
In November 2018, Cruz only narrowly defeated Democratic challenger Beto O’Rourke with 50.9 percent of the vote against 48.3 percent, with the gap closing substantially during the election campaign. During the campaign, O’Rourke raised over $38 million between July and September 2018, breaking the record to become the highest figure ever raised in a single quarter by a U.S. Senate candidate.
Allred, who currently represents Texas’s 32nd congressional district in the House, performed even stronger than O’Rourke at this stage in the electoral cycle, with Cruz’s previous challenger having brought in $10.4 million during the second quarter of 2018.
In a statement provided to The Texas Tribune, Allred’s campaign manager Paige Hutchinson said: “Texans are sending a clear message to Ted Cruz that they are ready to move on from him and his policies that are hurting Texas families, and that they are ready to elect Colin Allred to bring a new generation of leadership to the Senate.”
When approached for comment, Cruz’s campaign sent Newsweek a statement from spokesperson Nick Maddux, who said: “We continue to see growing support for Senator Cruz in every corner of the Lone Star State.
“This quarter’s record-breaking fundraising numbers are indicative of Texans’ steadfast support for Senator Cruz, but the job isn’t done yet. Senator Cruz will continue working day in and day out to ensure victory in November to Keep Texas, Texas.”
Newsweek also contacted the office of Representative Colin Allred for comment by email on Tuesday outside of regular office hours.
Senator Ted Cruz speaking at a news conference to unveil the Take It Down Act to protect victims against non-consensual intimate image abuse, on Capitol Hill on June 18, 2024 in Washington, D.C. Cruz was outraised by Democratic rival Colin Allred in the second quarter of 2024 according to campaign finance fillings.
Andrew Harnik/GETTY
Recent polling has given a mixed picture of Cruz’s position against the challenge from Allred. A Remington Research Group survey of 589 likely Texan voters conducted between June 29 and July 1 gave Cruz a 10-point lead, with the Republican on 53 percent against 43 percent for his challenger.
However, a Manhattan Institute poll of 600 likely Texan voters which took place from June 25 to 27 put Cruz’s lead at just three points, with 45 percent of the vote against 43 percent.
Speaking to Fox Business host Stuart Varney on July 11, Cruz predicted Biden will be replaced as the Democratic nominee, after concerns over the 81-year-old’s age and mental capacities were heightened by his June 27 debate against Donald Trump.
Cruz said: “I think he’s going to be forced out. I put the odds of Biden not being on the ballot in November at about 80 percent. I think the Democratic Party is freaking out right now…They’re terrified that he’s going to lose in November. And so now they’re willing to dump him.
“And if and when they dump him, I think their replacement nominee will be one of two people: It will either be Michelle Obama, or it will be Kamala Harris. Ten months ago, I predicted they were going to push Joe Biden out and replace him with Michelle Obama. That may still prove to be the case.”
Update 7/16/2024 9:00 a.m. ET: This story has been updated with comment from a Senator Ted Cruz campaign spokesperson.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.