Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas is gearing up for a tough re-election campaign, seeking his third term in the Senate. Cruz recently announced a large campaign cash haul of $9.7 million in the first quarter of 2024, nearly double what he raised in the previous three months. The senator’s political team reported he has $15.1 million cash on hand, including funds dedicated to his race and support for Republican organizations. Cruz is facing a challenging re-election bid against Democratic challenger Rep. Colin Allred, who raised over $9.5 million in the first quarter, matching Cruz’s fundraising efforts.
President Joe Biden voiced his support for Allred during a fundraiser in Dallas, urging donors to elect him as the next senator to replace Cruz. Allred’s campaign manager emphasized their momentum to build a strong campaign to defeat Cruz in November. Despite Cruz’s popularity among conservatives, he is facing competition from Allred and aims to secure funding for his re-election bid. Cruz has been a vocal critic of Democrats and argues that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is targeting him in Texas, with Democrats planning to spend over $100 million in the state. Cruz is focusing on grassroots efforts to connect with voters across Texas and maintain the state’s conservative values.
Cruz launched “Democrats for Cruz” as a strategy to attract left-leaning voters and showcase bipartisanship ahead of the election. He also highlights Allred as a partisan candidate who votes in lockstep with his party. Allred’s campaign counters by rejecting the divisiveness of Cruz and advocating for Texans’ freedoms. With Republicans aiming to regain control of the Senate, the GOP has a favorable map in 2024, with Democrats defending more seats, including key swing states won narrowly by President Biden in 2020. The math and the map favor the GOP, with Republicans needing a net gain of one or two seats to win back the majority, depending on the outcome of the presidential election.
Senate Republicans have recruited popular figures like former GOP Gov. Larry Hogan in Maryland to boost their chances of winning seats. Cruz’s re-election bid in Texas is crucial for the GOP, along with other competitive races in states like Florida where incumbent Sen. Rick Scott is seeking re-election. Cruz’s campaign is focusing on grassroots organizing and fundraising efforts to win over voters and secure his place in the Senate for another term. With the 2024 election season ramping up, Cruz’s team is gearing up for a fierce battle against Allred and Democratic efforts to flip the seat in Texas. The outcome of this high-stakes race could impact the balance of power in the Senate and the future of conservative representation from Texas.
