During an appearance on Life, Liberty & Levin over the weekend, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) reportedly attributed his reelection struggles this year to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).
“The Senate Leadership Fund is controlled by Mitch McConnell. He raises hundreds of millions of dollars in that fund to assist Senate candidates. Last time you ran, it was very close, two, two and a half percent [margin] you won. McConnell wouldn’t give your campaign a plug nickel. I assume he’s giving your campaign money now because he wants to control the Senate, yes?” Levin said.
“Sadly no, not a penny. So Mitch McConnell runs the largest Republican Super PAC in the country and has $400 million. But that Super PAC is used to reward the Republican senators who obey him and to punish those who dare to stand up to him. So, as you noted, 2018 I was in what was at the time the most expensive Senate race in U.S. history. I was being outspent 3 to 1. He had $300 million, he spent zero in Texas. I won anyway, but barely, by less than three points. This time around he has $400 million — I’m being massively outspent again. Schumer spending millions. And yet he’s [McConnell] spent zero.” Cruz said in reply.
“And by the way, he does the same thing for any other senator. So Ron Johnson in 2016 in Wisconsin had a very tough, competitive race. Mitch spent zero to support him. Ron won anyway. Mike Lee in 2022 had an unexpectedly tight race in Utah. Again, Mitch spent zero to support him because, and you know: People wonder at home, “How come no Republicans stand up and have courage and stand up to Mitch and leadership?” And the answer is, if you stand up and say, “No,” it costs you 10 or 20 or 30 or even $40 million. Where I’m not willing to just obey his orders, which means the only way I survive is the viewers of this show, patriots across the country going to tedcruz.org giving generously so that we have the resources to communicate with the voters.” he continued.
The Senate Leadership Fund typically allocates funds to the most competitive campaigns nationwide, as opposed to incumbent seats that should be considered secure.
It did not finance Lee in 2022 or Cruz in either of his most recent two campaigns.
Additionally, it did not allocate any funds to Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), a close ally of McConnell, in 2020.
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