Updated: Dewhurst Puts $4.5 Million More Into Race

Update, 3:40 p.m.

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst dipped again into his vast fortune this month and loaned his U.S. Senate campaign another $4.5 million for his U.S. Senate race, bringing the total value of his personal contributions to about $15 million, according to figures provided by his campaign Monday.

Dewhurst raised about $1.5 million from individual contributors in the latest reporting period, which is slightly less then Ted Cruz, his rival in the July 31 Republican runoff. The Cruz campaign told reporters that the candidate had raised about $1.7 million between May 10 and June 30.

Both campaigns have raised about $8 million from individual donors so far.

Original story:

U.S. Senate hopeful Ted Cruz has raised $1.7 million since mid-May, boosting his fundraising total to almost $8 million so far, according to figures released by his campaign Monday.

Cruz, in a heated Republican runoff battle with Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, hasn't disclosed his spending totals yet. Cruz had spent $4.4 million as of May 9 and had $1.5 million in the bank, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

Dewhurst was also expected to release details of his fundraising haul Monday. Federal contribution and spending reports were due to the Federal Election Commission on Sunday. The period covers May 10 through June 30.

The Cruz campaign, whose overall fundraising total is around $7.6 million through the period, released statistical information about his contributions and said the figures show the candidate is generating high enthusiasm among small donors and getting support from a broad region of Texas.

Cruz said he has gotten donations from 29,742 people, with more than 20,000 of them giving repeat contributions, since jumping into the race a year and a half ago. Donors from 987 Texas cities and 235 counties had made contributions as of the most recent reporting period. The average donation size was $156.84.

“This is a remarkable showing of grassroots support across Texas and the nation,” said Cruz spokesman James Bernsen.  “These thousands of supporters are rallying around our campaign, because like Ted, they recognize that politicians from both parties have got us into this mess and they want a fighter to stand for limited government and the Constitution."