Sen. Ted Cruz’s Donor Playbook Found in Senate Refectory: Exclusive Insights Revealed
Alex Wong / Getty Images file
A playbook belonging to Republican Senator Ted Cruz, detailing his fundraising strategies for re-election, was found in the Senate refectory and subsequently posted online by a reporter.
Pablo Manríquez, co-publisher of “Capitol Press” and self-described “hill reporter and oil painter,” discovered a folder containing briefing papers. While some information was innocuous, such as weather updates for New York, the documents also included phone numbers and addresses of notable figures like billionaire Ron Lauder and Wall Street scion John Loeb.
“Someone, presumably a staffer, left a folder full of briefing documents on TED CRUZ donors in the Senate Refectory,” Manríquez wrote on X. He posted a thread detailing Cruz’s itinerary and talking points intended to woo potential deep-pocketed donors. However, the photos of the documents were later removed for violating X’s rules.
Cruz, 53, is facing a challenge from 40-year-old Rep. Colin Allred (D-TX), a former NFL player turned civil rights attorney who has served three terms in office. The leaked documents reveal Cruz’s strategic methods and the specific dollar amounts he seeks from each donor. The playbook also coaches him on key talking points for his meetups.
In Washington, D.C., the documents show Cruz plans to attend a Capitol Grille dinner with eight donors who have pledged $19,500 but have yet to contribute. On Wednesday, Cruz will head to New York City to lunch with Lauder at Cipriani and later meet Loeb at the Knickerbocker Club. His schedule also includes a visit to billionaire Mike Novogratz’s home, with the address unredacted in the documents.
When confronted about the potential consequences of posting the documents, Manríquez was unfazed. “@JefeJengibre” commented, “Not sure why this was revealed here but if the intent was to confront Cruz, you’ve just ensured they change literally every time and location.” Manríquez responded, “Then he should give me an exclusive on all his donor relations, as a thank you.”
Cruz is seeking financial backing in New York City, despite his past criticisms of the city’s values. “There are many, many wonderful, wonderful working men and women in the state of New York, but everyone understands that the values in New York City are socially liberal or pro-abortion or pro-gay marriage, [and] focus around money and the media,” Cruz previously stated. This comment sparked outrage across the city and unexpectedly garnered support for then-candidate Donald Trump.
The leak of Cruz’s fundraising playbook offers a rare glimpse into the behind-the-scenes efforts of political campaigns, revealing both the intricate planning involved and the potential vulnerabilities in campaign strategies.
