Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) is opposing a state lawmaker’s bid to replace the late Rep. Ron Wright (R) in Congress after he died from complications related to coronavirus.
Texas state Rep. Jake Ellzey (R) is running in the state’s special election to replace Wright, but has garnered opposition from the right including from Cruz and The Club for Growth, national anti-tax group, according to The Texas Tribune.
Ellzey is one of 11 Republicans who are running to fill the seat on May 1.
“Texans in CD-6 deserve a strong conservative voice in Congress,” Sen. Cruz said in a statement to the Tribune. “Jake Ellzey’s financial support from never-Trumpers, openness to amnesty, and opposition to school choice should concern Texans looking for a conservative leader.”
Ellzey received a $250 donation from Bill Kristol one of the most vocal Republican critics of former President Donald Trump from the right.
The Club for Growth has also spent $160,000 in mail and TV attack ads against Ellzey, claiming that the state lawmaker stood in opposition to Trump.
However, Ellzey on Tuesday denied that he has taken this stance, stating that he is a “lifelong Republican.”
“As many of you know, a group out of DC (acting on behalf of one of my opponents) has sent out several mailers attacking my Republican credentials and claiming I stood in opposition to Pres. Trump. Neither accusation is true,” Ellzey said in a tweet.
“I am a lifelong Republican, and I supported President Trump and his America First policies. Ironically, the very group attacking me spent millions of dollars attacking President Trump in the 2016 Primary,” Ellzey added.
The news comes after Ellzey gained attention when a campaign finance report showed he was the top fundraiser in the race.
The candidate raised over $500,000 in less than two months and has $400,000 left for the end of the race, according to the Tribune.
Cruz has not endorsed anyone in the race, though GOP candidate Dan Rodimer claimed that Cruz encouraged him to run, according to the outlet.