Ted Cruz delivering a speech on the Senate floor/Screenshot by YouTube

During the first day of candidate ballot filings, Sen. Ted Cruz drew his first official challenger for his 2024 re-election bid.

According to ballot filings reported by the Republican Party of Texas, R.E. “Rufus” Lopez filed to challenge Cruz in the 2024 Republican primary election. Little information is available about Lopez currently, although the candidate’s filing with the Federal Election Commission says the candidate’s campaign is located in San Antonio.

Lopez is expected to face Cruz in the Republican primary election for the seat. Cruz is running for his third term in the U.S. Senate after most recently being re-elected in 2018.

Candidate filings will continue through December 11. The primary election is scheduled for Tuesday, March 5, 2024.