Sen. Ted Cruz criticized the Senate Leadership Fund (SLF) at a recent rally, claiming they have not provided any support in his competitive Senate race against Rep. Colin Allred in Texas. Despite the challenge posed by Allred, Cruz is favored to win the race. SLF has focused its resources on states with key Republican Senate pick-up opportunities, such as Pennsylvania, Montana, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Michigan, rather than on Cruz’s race. The Texas Senate race has become the most expensive in the country, with both Cruz and Allred raising a combined $165 million, the most of any Senate race.
Although the Texas Senate race has attracted significant campaign cash, it has not seen as much outside involvement as other races this cycle. Ohio, for example, has seen the most spending in its Senate race, with over $400 million being spent. Cruz criticized Chuck Schumer and George Soros for spending over $100 million trying to beat him, as well as the lack of support from McConnell and the SLF. Allred’s campaign did not provide a comment to Fox News Digital, but SLF spokesperson Torunn Sinclair expressed confidence in Cruz’s ability to win the race.
Despite being in similarly competitive battles, less attention has been paid to the races of Senators Rick Scott, R-Fla., and Deb Fischer, R-Neb., as conservative efforts have been primarily focused on defeating vulnerable Democrats in battleground states. Cruz believes that McConnell uses SLF to reward senators who agree with him and punish those who oppose him. In Michael Tackett’s book on McConnell, it is detailed how the leader allows conference members to publicly dissent against him if it benefits them electorally.
Cruz’s criticism of SLF and McConnell comes amidst the 2024 campaign trail, with senators from both parties using the opportunity to lobby for influence within their respective conferences. The focus on vulnerable Democrats in battleground states has left less attention on competitive Republican races, such as Cruz’s. Despite this, Cruz remains confident in his abilities as a fundraiser and campaigner and is expected to be reelected handily on Election Day. McConnell’s use of SLF to reward loyalty among Republican senators is seen by Cruz as indicative of the “swamp” mentality in Washington, where those who stand up against the establishment are punished.
As the race in Texas heats up, with unprecedented amounts of money being spent, the focus remains on Cruz’s ability to fend off a legitimate challenge from Allred. While SLF and McConnell have not provided support to Cruz, he remains a strong fundraiser and campaigner and is expected to secure victory. The criticisms of the establishment and the focus on traditional campaign tactics highlight the ongoing tensions within the Republican Party and the broader political landscape in the United States.
