Cruz v. O’Rourke U.S. Senate race passes $100M milestone

PHOTOS: On the issues Until the race between U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke and Sen. Ted Cruz, no general election battle for the U.S. Senate had cost more than $77 million, a record set in 2012 in Massachusetts. >>See where Cruz and O'Rourke stand on the issues in the photos that follow... less PHOTOS: On the issues Until the race between U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke and Sen. Ted Cruz, no general election battle for the U.S. Senate had cost more than $77 million, a record set in 2012 in Massachusetts. ... more Photo: Tom Reel /Staff Photo: Tom Reel /Staff Image 1 of / 12 Caption Close Cruz v. O’Rourke U.S. Senate race passes $100M milestone 1 / 12 Back to Gallery

For the first time in American history, a U.S. Senate race will top $100 million in spending as U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and his Democratic rival Beto O’Rourke battle down the stretch in one of the most-watched races in the nation.

That milestone was certain after Cruz announced on Thursday that he has already raised $5.3 million this month. O’Rourke announced he has pulled in another $8.4 million during the same time period. Combined, the two have raised $110 million for the race.

Prior to this year, no general election battle for the U.S. Senate had cost more than $77 million, a record set in 2012 in Massachusetts.

O’Rourke is a major reason for the fundraising record. He had raised $61 million for his campaign as of Oct. 1. Cruz has raised a total of $40 million through Thursday.

Although O’Rourke leads Cruz in fundraising, he still trails the Republican in public polling. The last five major public polls show Cruz leading by as few as 5 percentage points and by as many as 9 points.

Cruz was once expected to easily win re-election, but O’Rourke has surprised political experts with his unconventional campaign. He’s used a social-media driven campaign to travel to each of the 254 counties in Texas and visit places Democrats have largely written off in the past.

On Monday, President Donald Trump was in Houston for a rally aimed at boosting Cruz and stopping O’Rourke’s momentum.

The $110 million doesn’t even count money in Super PACs that are helping Cruz’s campaign. Millions more are expected to be funneled into the race by those outside groups to help Cruz win a second term in the U.S. Senate.

jeremy.wallace@chron.com