WASHINGTON — El Paso Rep. Beto O’Rourke, the Texas Democrat hoping to oust Republican powerhouse Sen. Ted Cruz, announced he’s raised $2.2 million in the first six weeks of 2018.

That’s almost as much as O’Rourke raised in the final three months of 2017, when he posted a $2.4 million haul and outraised the sitting senator.

O’Rourke, who has barnstormed the state since declaring his candidacy last spring, has twice posted higher quarterly figures than his Republican opponent.

Cruz finished 2017 with nearly $2 million more in cash on hand — $6.4 million to O’Rourke’s $4.6 million, according to federal filings — and hasn’t fully revved his re-election engines.

Still, the Republican appeared worried. On Friday, the senator's campaign issued a fundraising solicitation that warned — without naming O'Rourke — that Cruz's "potential opponent has raised $2.2 million SINCE THE BEGINNING OF 2018."

"After being outraised in Q4 of last year and a poll showing us within single digits — this is serious," the fundraising email stated.

According to figures released by the O’Rourke campaign Friday, just days before early voting begins Tuesday, the Democrat raised the money through 43,000 contributions. O’Rourke has pledged to run without the support of political action committees.

“It’s the people in every community of Texas stepping up like never before by knocking doors, walking blocks and pitching in that five, 10, 15 bucks to not only make this race possible, but to win it come November,” O’Rourke said in a prepared statement.

But first, O’Rourke will face primary challengers Sema Hernandez, a self-described “progressive Berniecrat” from Houston, and Edward Kimbrough, who according to his website is a retired U.S. Postal Service employee from the Houston area.

O’Rourke is considered the heavy favorite in the primary, but he is no doubt the underdog in his bid to oust the Republican incumbent.

Cruz is a formidable fundraiser who brought in more than $90 million during his presidential run, and who has the backing of several wealthy donors. His campaign could not be reached for immediate comment.

The news comes as the political arm of the Texas AFL-CIO threw its support behind O'Rourke, reversing its earlier decision to withhold an endorsement.

Political observers have kept a close eye on both Cruz and O’Rourke’s coffers after the Democrat earned more than $2.1 million in the first three months of his campaign. He outraised Cruz, who posted $1.6 million that quarter in 2017, though the senator wasn’t in campaign mode.

Cruz outraised O’Rourke between July and September, bringing in $2 million to O’Rourke’s $1.7 million. In the final and fourth quarter of 2017, Cruz raised less than O’Rourke, posting a $1.9 million haul.