Dewhurst Announces Raising $1.66 Million in First Quarter

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, a candidate for U.S. Senate, will report raising $1.66 million in individual contributions during the first three months of 2012, his campaign confirmed today.

Campaign finance reports covering the first quarter of the year for congressional candidates are due to the Federal Election Commission by Sunday. Dewhurst is the first of the nine Republican Senate candidates to announce his fundraising totals for the quarter.

Eighty-six percent of the first-quarter contributions to Dewhurst's campaign came from within Texas, his campaign said.

Dewhurst senior adviser Jim Bognet said that "Dewhurst’s message of going to Washington to repeal Obamacare, rein in government spending and balance the budget is resonating with Texans." He added that voters know Dewhurst "is the best candidate to create jobs and get our economy on track, just like he has done in Texas."

Dewhurst reported raising $1.5 million in the previous quarter. Former state Solicitor General Ted Cruz raised $1.1 million and former Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert raised $391,000 during that period. Former ESPN analyst Craig James entered the race in December and has not yet filed a campaign finance report.

Dewhurst also loaned his campaign $2 million last year. A campaign spokesman said the first-quarter report will not show any additional loans from Dewhurst during that period.

On Friday, Dewhurst will participate in a televised debate in Dallas with Cruz, James and Leppert.