Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson for The Texas Tribune
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, says he raised more than $12 million in the third quarter, a big escalation in his fundraising as he faces a massively funded challenge from U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, D-El Paso.
O’Rourke has outraised Cruz every reporting period but one since entering the race in March 2017. In the second quarter, O’Rourke more than doubled Cruz’s fundraising, $10.4 million to $4.6 million.
O’Rourke has not announced his third-quarter figures yet but is expected to again eclipse Cruz, who has predicted O’Rourke will post a $30 million-plus haul. Both candidates face an Oct. 15 deadline to report their latest numbers to the Federal Election Commission.
Cruz first announced the number Wednesday night in Conroe, where he held a rally with Donald Trump Jr., the president’s son.
“Together we raised in the third quarter over $12 million,” Cruz told supporters, calling it a record for a U.S. Senate race in Texas.
O’Rourke is likely to one-up that record — and by a lot — when he reveals his third-quarter haul. His campaign took in over $6 million online in just the final several days of the quarter.
At the Conroe rally, Cruz did not say how much cash on hand his campaign had. O’Rourke had the advantage in that category at the end of June, disclosing having $14 million in the bank to Cruz’s $10.4 million.
When announcing fundraising numbers, Cruz and his campaign normally take into account three groups: his re-election campaign, a leadership PAC and a joint fundraising committee benefitting the re-election campaign and leadership PAC.
Source: Texas Tribune Blue Left News
