U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz at the CNN Presidential Debate in Simi Valley, California on Sept. 16, 2015.
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz at the CNN Presidential Debate in Simi Valley, California on Sept. 16, 2015. Screenshot/CNN News

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz’s presidential campaign reached the $1 million mark after nine days of fundraising in the fourth quarter. The money comes from about 20,000 donations, which the campaign said came mainly through contributions of $50 or less.

This latest wave of donations comes on the heels of last week’s announcement that the candidate had raised more than $12 million in third quarter fundraising — $1 million of which was raised in the final 24 hours of that reporting period.

It also brings Cruz’s overall fundraising total to more than $27.5 million.

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Cruz on Wednesday predictably panned the first Democratic presidential debate, calling it an “audition for who would wear the jackboot most vigorously” and continue the oppressive policies of President Barack Obama.

During a stop here for his presidential campaign, the White House hopeful admitted he did not watch the debate late Tuesday — he was holding a meet and greet elsewhere in Iowa at the time — but said he was not surprised to hear there was little disagreement among the candidates.

“I have to admit, from everything I’ve seen of it, it really was a competition to see – you know, apparently there still are some rights in the Bill of Rights they haven’t violated yet,” Cruz told a crowd of over 100 in this small southeast Iowa city. “And it was more socialism, more pacifism, more weakness and less Constitution.”

“It’s a recipe to destroy a country,” he added.

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In Rick Perry staffer diaspora news, a former top policy hand to the erstwhile presidential candidate is now advising U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida in his bid for the White House.

Avik Roy, who was serving as a senior policy adviser to the former governor before he dropped out of the race last month, announced Monday he was working with Rubio. “No candidate expresses — and embodies — the American dream better than” Rubio, Roy tweeted.

Roy is the latest Perry ally to join a once-rival GOP campaign since the former governor left the 2016 contest in September amid fundraising struggles. So far, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush’s campaign has been the biggest recipient of the operatives who worked on Perry’s presidential effort.

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Lubbock Mayor Glen Robertson announced Tuesday he plans to run for the open District 19 seat in the U.S. Congress. He will host a formal campaign kick-off in Lubbock on Oct. 26, according to a press release.

“Today I am announcing my campaign for Congress in Texas’ 19th District,” Robertson said in a statement. “Should I have the honor and privilege of serving in Congress, my number one priority will be putting the interests of West Texas and the Big County first.”

U.S. Rep. Randy Neugebauer, R-Lubbock, announced last month he would not seek re-election to the seat he has held for 12 years. A number of candidates have already announced plans to run for the seat.

Patrick Svitek was the primary political correspondent for The Texas Tribune. Patrick covered elections, state leaders, the Legislature and political trends across the state from 2015 until 2024. He previously...

Madlin Mekelburg was a reporting fellow for the Tribune in 2015 and 2016. She is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, where she studied journalism and French. Madlin previously worked at the...