Ted Cruz's challenger, Beto O'Rourke, raised a stunning $6.7 million last quarter

(Image credit: Anthony Smith/Getty Images)

published 3 April 2018

On Monday, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) officially kicked off his re-election campaign, starting with a three-day swing through 12 Texas cities. On Tuesday morning, his challenger, Rep. Beto O'Rourke (D-Texas), announced that he raised a startling $6.7 million in the first quarter, more than double his previous record, $2.4 million, and more than any other Democratic Senate candidate brought in last quarter. And that $6.7 million came from 141,000 donors — or an average of $48 per person, as Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) might lay it out.

Cruz has not released his full first quarter figures, but the Federal Election Commission deadline isn't until April 15. As of the middle of February, Cruz had $6 million cash on hand to O'Rourke's $4.9 million, but O'Rourke has out-fundraised Cruz in three of the last four reporting periods. While Cruz hits 12 cities in three days, O'Rourke plans to visit 15 cities in Texas over the next six days, holding town hall events in each of them. Texas hasn't elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1988.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Explore More

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.