Ted Cruz’s Opponent Raises How Much?
Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas) recently revealed an astonishing fundraising achievement, reporting over $30 million raised in just the past three months as he seeks to unseat Texas Senator Ted Cruz (R). This surge in contributions underscores a significant desire among Democratic supporters to challenge one of the Senate’s leading conservative figures.
Allred, a former NFL linebacker and a member of Congress since 2018, has amassed a total of $68.7 million for his Senate campaign thus far. His latest fundraising figures significantly outpace Cruz, who reported around $21 million for the same quarter.
Allred’s campaign manager emphasized a grassroots approach, stating, “From $5 donations to families canvassing neighborhoods, we are uniting Texans and holding Ted Cruz accountable.” The message is clear: Allred aims to present Cruz as out of touch with the needs of ordinary Texans.
Interestingly, Allred’s fundraising prowess rivals that of Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), who recently announced raising $30.6 million. Cruz’s supporters anticipate a massive defense budget for the incumbent, predicting Republican expenditures between $50 million to $100 million, while Democrats may invest upwards of $150 million to secure a victory.
Polls reflect a tight race, with Cruz leading Allred by only 4 points, according to a recent Emerson College/The Hill/Nexstar Media survey. However, the poll also highlights a notable portion of the electorate—50 percent—viewing Cruz unfavorably.
In response, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has committed to a multimillion-dollar advertising blitz targeting Cruz, showcasing the high stakes of this election. Allred’s campaign claims to have received contributions from 252 of Texas’s 254 counties, with an impressive average donation of just over $36.
Allred’s fundraising echoes the previous efforts of Beto O’Rourke in 2018, who narrowly lost to Cruz after raising a remarkable $80 million. With Allred already surpassing O’Rourke’s fundraising total for the same period, the 2024 race is shaping up to be another fierce contest for the future of Texas politics.
