In their first and only debate for the Texas Senate race, Republican Senator Ted Cruz and Democratic Representative Colin Allred engaged in a heated exchange on policy and personal attacks, both recognizing the competitiveness of the contest. Cruz positioned himself as a staunch conservative committed to preserving Texas’s identity, while Allred criticized him as an ineffective extremist who has failed to serve the state effectively during his 12 years in the Senate.
Allred referenced Cruz’s infamous trip to Cancún amid the 2021 Texas winter storm, stating, “When the lights went out in the energy capital of the world, he went to Cancún.” He accused Cruz of hiding during the Capitol riot on January 6 and suggested that Cruz’s recent actions don’t align with his claims of being a strong leader for Texas.
Cruz, seemingly amused by Allred’s jibes, defended himself by arguing that there’s a difference between words and actions. He challenged Allred’s credibility, asserting that while Allred’s rhetoric sounds appealing, it doesn’t reflect his past voting record.
Despite Cruz’s Republican advantage in Texas, polls indicate a tight race, with Cruz leading Allred by narrow margins. Some Democrats view the race as a potential opportunity given Cruz’s divisive reputation, especially as they anticipate losing seats in more traditionally Republican states.
Cruz underscored the importance of his campaign, expressing concern that victory is not guaranteed and emphasizing the need for additional resources. He focused on energy issues and attributed rising inflation to Democratic policies, while passionately opposing Allred’s stance on transgender athletes competing in women’s sports.
Allred countered Cruz’s assertions, labeling Cruz’s claims as disingenuous, particularly in regard to women’s rights and reproductive health. He presented himself as a bipartisan candidate, contrasting with Cruz’s position as what he termed the “most extreme senator.”
While Cruz remains firm in his anti-abortion stance, he did not clearly communicate his position on exceptions for rape and incest. Instead, he suggested that the topic should be addressed by the state Legislature, claiming the Democrats’ push for unrestricted abortion rights is the truly extreme viewpoint.
When asked about whether he would support pardoning individuals involved in the January 6 riots, Cruz avoided a direct answer, mentioning the need to hold criminals accountable while bringing up issues related to protests from the Black Lives Matter and Antifa movements.
As the debate concluded, Allred directly confronted Cruz over his actions during the certification of the 2020 election, declaring, “You’re a threat to democracy.”