(CNN) Beto O'Rourke is giving Ted Cruz a run for his money in the Texas Senate contest. The Democratic underdog from El Paso outraised the first-term Republican senator and former presidential candidate by $1.5 million -- $2.3 million to $800,000 -- from the beginning of 2018 through mid-February. That impressive fundraising haul comes after O'Rourke also outpaced Cruz in the closing quarter of 2017, $2.4 million to $1.8 million. The last Democrat elected to the US Senate from Texas? For Democrats to have a chance at taking control of the Senate, they may have to make states like Texas competitive.

Source: CNN February 27, 2018 15:16 UTC