Texas Showdown: Cruz and Allred Battle for Senate Seat in High-Stakes Race
As a seasoned political reporter, I’ve covered my fair share of heated elections. But the 2024 Texas Senate race between incumbent Republican Ted Cruz and Democratic challenger Colin Allred is shaping up to be one for the history books.
Cruz, the firebrand conservative seeking his third term, faces an unexpectedly tough fight from Allred, a former NFL player turned civil rights lawyer. With Election Day just weeks away, both camps are intensifying their efforts in a contest that could determine control of the U.S. Senate.
On a sunny October afternoon, I caught up with Cruz at a campaign rally in Waxahachie, a small city south of Dallas. The senator worked the crowd with his trademark blend of Texas swagger and red-meat rhetoric. Cruz declared to cheers that wildcatters founded us. “Give a Texan an open field, a horse, and a gun, and we can conquer the world!”
But beneath the bravado, there’s a palpable sense of concern in Cruz’s camp. Recent polls indicate a tightening race, mirroring his thrilling victory over Beto O’Rourke in 2018. And this time, he faces a very different kind of opponent in Allred.
Where O’Rourke ran as an unapologetic progressive, Allred is positioning himself as a pragmatic moderate. He highlights the endorsements he has received from prominent Republicans and highlights his ability to collaborate with people from different political backgrounds. At a recent event in Fort Worth, Allred told supporters, “I’m not interested in scoring political points. I want to get things done for Texas.”
This approach has frustrated some Democrats who pine for O’Rourke’s fiery style. But it may be paying off. Allred has kept pace in fundraising, and national Democratic groups are pouring millions into TV ads backing his bid.
Attacks from both sides have already saturated the airwaves. Cruz paints Allred as a “radical leftist” who’s soft on border security. Allred fires back by hammering Cruz over his infamous Cancun trip during the 2021 Texas freeze.
Key issues dominating the race include the economy, immigration, and abortion rights. Cruz is laser-focused on border security, while Allred talks up his plans to lower costs for families. The Democrat has also made reproductive rights a centerpiece of his campaign in the wake of Texas’ near-total abortion ban.
As the race enters its final stretch, both candidates are crisscrossing the state at a frenetic pace. Cruz rallies the GOP base in conservative strongholds, while Allred courts moderates in suburban swing districts.
The outcome may hinge on turnout in places like Tarrant County, home to Fort Worth. This fast-growing area has trended purple in recent cycles, making it prime battleground territory.
Both parties have spent over $120 million, making this one of the most expensive Senate races in history. The enormous price tag underscores the high stakes, as Democrats see Texas as their best shot at flipping a GOP-held seat.
As November 5th approaches, the energy on the ground is electric. At a packed Allred rally in Dallas, 28-year-old teacher Maria Gonzalez told me, “I’ve never been this fired up about an election before. It really feels like we have a chance to make history.”
We will have to wait and see if Texas is truly in play. But one thing is clear: the Lone Star State is once again at the center of the political universe. This reporter will be watching closely as Cruz and Allred sprint to the finish in a race that could reshape the balance of power in Washington.
Texans on both sides are more energized than ever before as this blockbuster battle enters its final act. Election Night will undoubtedly make history in one way or another. The only question is: which vision for the future of Texas will prevail?