Title: Texas Democratic Nominee Colin Allred Prepared to Challenge Republican Sen. Ted Cruz in the General Election
Texas Democratic nominee, US Rep. Colin Allred, is set to take on incumbent Republican Senator Ted Cruz in the upcoming general election, according to projections by various news outlets following the Democratic primary held on March 1, 2024.
Allred, a former NFL player and a two-term congressman representing Texas’s 32nd district, secured his party nomination by defeating state Senator Roland Gutierrez and seven other contenders. By surpassing the 50% threshold in the primary, Allred avoided an automatic runoff in May.
Texas Democrats are optimistic about their chances of unseating Cruz six years after former Rep. Beto O’Rourke’s close bid to defeat him in the 2018 senatorial race. While O’Rourke’s campaign came remarkably close, Democrats have since struggled to secure statewide victories in the Lone Star State.
Despite their disappointing performance in recent elections, Texas might offer the Democrats an opportunity to go on the offensive under the 2024 Senate map. The party faces challenging reelection battles in states where Trump is likely to win the presidential race, such as Montana, Ohio, West Virginia, Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
Allred, who first won his Dallas-area seat in a competitive 2018 race by unseating a Republican incumbent, has emphasized healthcare issues throughout his campaign. He supports the Affordable Care Act and advocates for abortion rights, making him a strong contender in the Democratic primary.
Furthermore, Allred has shown his fundraising prowess, raising $4.8 million more than Cruz during the fourth quarter of 2023 and ending the year with a war chest of $10.1 million compared to Cruz’s $6.2 million.
Gutierrez, a longtime Texas state lawmaker from San Antonio, ran as the more progressive alternative to Allred in the primary. Best known for his advocacy for gun restrictions following the elementary school shooting in Uvalde (which falls within his district), he was widely viewed as the most formidable challenger to Allred.
In contrast, Cruz faced minimal opposition from two underfunded Republican primary challengers as he seeks a third term in the Senate.
With Allred and Cruz gearing up for their high-stakes showdown, Texas Democrats and Republicans are preparing for an intense political performance that could shape the future of the Lone Star State’s political landscape.
