By Daily Mail Reporter and Associated  Press Reporter PUBLISHED: 19:42 EST, 23 January 2014 | UPDATED: 06:27 EST, 24 January 2014 A fiercely conservative Texas congressman who is mounting a long-shot challenge from the right against Senate minority whip John Cornyn has made virtually no public appearances in recent weeks as questions mount about his campaign finances. Republican Steve Stockman has missed 17 straight House votes since January 9 - including one on the $1.1 trillion omnibus federal spending package that he promised on Twitter to vote against. That's unusual since, even though Stockman has a reputation as a Capitol Hill renegade, he missed only about a dozen major votes all last year.
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Steve Stockman is running against Texas Senator John Cornyn who he says is 'too liberal'
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Since Jan 9 Stockman has missed 17 straight House votes, while last year he only missed a dozen major votes all year
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Reported having only about $32,000 in cash on-hand and $163,000 in debts, while Cornyn's campaign fund is nearly $7 million
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Linked to photo-shopped image of his rival that suggesting that Cornyn secretly supports Obamacare
Though skipping votes isn't uncommon for congressmen who are campaigning, Stockman hasn't done much campaigning, even with @placeholder' March 4 Republican primary now looming.