Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D) is nearly even with Sen. Ted Cruz (R) in fundraising for their remarkably close Senate race in Texas, which has attracted attention – and donations – from across the country.
O’Rourke has raised $23.33 million compared to Cruz’s $23.36 million so far, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
Recent polls have found the two in a dead heat, with Cruz leading by only between 1 and 4 points, a notably strong performance for a Democrat in a red state.
The bulk of O’Rourke’s campaign funds have come from tens of thousands of individual contributions, a fact that the campaign has touted as proof of its grassroots appeal. The average donation to the campaign earlier this year was $40, the Center for Responsive Politics notes.
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O’Rourke also does not accept contributions from corporate PACs, joining a multitude of Democratic candidates who have sworn off PAC donations as a form of political corruption.
The Center for Responsive Politics reported in March that 41 percent of O’Rourke’s contributions were small individual contributions of less than $200. Around 58 percent were from large individual contributions.
The biggest donors to O’Rourke have been Democratic and liberal organizations, which donated a total of $1.5 million, and individuals, who have donated $1.5 million, the Center for Responsive politics reported.
Lawyers and lobbyists have contributed $1.2 million while the finance, insurance and real estate industries have contributed $1.2 million. Single-issue sources have donated $1.7 million.
Cruz’s largest campaign donations have come from retirees, who have donated $2.9 million, and the finance, insurance and real estate industries, which have donated a total of $3.5 million, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
Cruz has received $1.6 million from the energy and natural resources industry as well.
O’Rourke reportedly raised more than $10.4 million in the latest quarter, which placed him second among the top fundraisers this election season. Cruz raised $4 million during the same amount of time.