It's official: Texas Democratic state Sen. Roland Gutierrez is running for the U.S. Senate in 2024.

Gutierrez announced his run on Twitter Mon. morning: "I’m running for the U.S. Senate to fight back..."

Gutierrez: "Ted Cruz abandoned Texas long before he left us to die in the winter storm."

Gutierrez: "Uvalde happened because Republicans neglected the systems in this state that are supposed to keep us safe."

Gutierrez is the second Democrat to challenge Sen. Ted Cruz for his seat: Rep. Colin Allred announced his run in May.

Who is Gutierrez? Gutierrez was first elected to the Texas House in 2008; in 2020, he was elected to the state Senate. (AP)

Gutierrez currently represents Texas's 19th District in the state Senate, which includes Uvalde. (AP)

Is Cruz vulnerable in 2024? A May University of Texas at Tyler poll showed Cruz leading Allred by five points. (FTE)