In a pivotal moment for Texas politics, incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz and challenger Rep. Colin Allred squared off in what may be their only televised debate before the Nov. 5 election. The Oct. 15 showdown in Dallas revealed the stark choice facing voters in the race to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate, pitting Cruz’s divisive brand of right-wing, culture war politics against Allred’s promise of unity and pragmatism.
The Incumbent: Sen. Ted Cruz
Cruz, seeking his third term in the Senate, has been a lightning rod for controversy since his election in 2012. Known for his sharp tongue and hardline stances, Cruz has often seemed more focused on building his national profile than addressing the needs of everyday Texans.
Cruz’s time in office has been marked by high-profile moments that have often put him at odds with both Democrats and fellow Republicans. He played a leading role in the 2013 government shutdown, made an unsuccessful bid for the presidency in 2016, and became an unlikely ally of former President Donald Trump despite their bitter primary rivalry.
However, Cruz’s actions during two recent crises have come to define his Senate career. In February 2021, as millions of Texans shivered without power during the devastating Winter Storm Uri, Cruz fled to Cancún for a family vacation. Less than two months earlier, he had been one of the loudest voices challenging the 2020 election results, actions that many believe contributed to the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
The Challenger: Rep. Colin Allred
In contrast to Cruz’s combative style, Allred has positioned himself as a unifying force in Texas politics. A former NFL linebacker turned civil rights attorney, Allred’s journey to Congress is a quintessential American success story.
After his football career with the Tennessee Titans, Allred worked in President Obama’s Department of Housing and Urban Development before becoming a voting rights attorney. In 2018, he flipped a Republican-held House seat, joining Congress with a pledge to work across the aisle. His efforts at bipartisanship have earned him recognition, including the Jefferson-Hamilton Award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Clash of Visions: Key Moments from the Debate
Reproductive Rights Take Center Stage
One of the night’s most heated exchanges centered on Texas’ near-total abortion ban. Allred didn’t mince words in his criticism of Cruz’s support for the law:
“It’s not pro-life to deny women care so long that they can’t have children anymore. It’s not pro-life to force a victim of rape to carry their rapist’s baby,” Allred declared.
Cruz, notably evasive on this issue, refused to directly state his position on exceptions for rape or incest, claiming it was a matter for the state Legislature. (Funny, that’s never stopped him from weighing in on private school vouchers before.) This dodge highlighted Cruz’s reluctance to engage with one of the most pressing issues facing Texas women.
The January 6 Divide
Allred drew a stark contrast between his actions during the January 6 insurrection and Cruz’s role in the events leading up to it, recalling that, “I took off my suit jacket, and I was prepared to defend the House from the mob. At the same time, after going around the country lying about the election, after he’d been the architect of the attempt to overthrow that election, when that mob came, Sen. Cruz was hiding in a supply closet.”
Cruz’s objections to the 2020 election results, even after the violence at the Capitol, came under intense scrutiny. Allred accused Cruz of being a “threat to democracy” and reminded viewers of the senator’s role in amplifying baseless claims of election fraud.
Leadership in Times of Crisis
Throughout the debate, Allred hammered home a central theme: Cruz’s absence during critical moments for Texas. The most glaring example was Cruz’s infamous trip to Cancún during the 2021 winter storm. Allred didn’t let viewers forget, reminding us, “When the lights went out in the energy capital of the world, he went to Cancún. When a mob was storming the Capitol, he was hiding in a supply closet. And when the toughest border security bill in a generation came up in the United States Senate, he took it down.”
The Fight for Texas’ Future: The Road Ahead
For members of Texas AFT and working families across the state, this election represents a critical choice. Allred has positioned himself as an advocate for public education, health care access, and workers’ rights, reasons that earned him Texas AFT COPE’s endorsement. His track record of bipartisanship suggests a willingness to work across the aisle to deliver results for Texans.
Cruz, on the other hand, has consistently aligned himself with corporate interests and pushed for policies that many labor advocates view as harmful to working families. His opposition to expanding health care access, support for right-to-work laws, and skepticism towards climate change action put him at odds with many of the priorities of organized labor.
As the race enters its final weeks, polls show a tightening contest. While Cruz maintains a slight lead, Allred’s performance in the debate and his campaign’s focus on kitchen-table issues have kept the race competitive. For Allred to pull off an upset in a state that hasn’t elected a Democrat to statewide office since 1994, he’ll need strong turnout from labor unions, young voters, and suburban moderates disillusioned with Cruz’s brand of politics.
The contrast between the candidates couldn’t be clearer. Cruz represents a continuation of the divisive, obstructionist politics that have caused gridlock in Washington for years. Allred offers a vision of unity, pragmatism, and a focus on delivering tangible results for Texas families.
As Allred stated in his closing remarks, “We’re all Americans, and we’re all Texans. We need a leader who will bring us together around our shared values. That’s what I’m trying to do during my six years in Congress. That’s the exact opposite of what Sen. Cruz has done.”
For Texas AFT members and all Texans concerned about the future of their state, the upcoming elections are not just about a Senate seat; they are about the direction of Texas and the nation for years to come. As Nov. 5 approaches, the eyes of the nation will be on the Lone Star State, waiting to see if Texans are ready for a new kind of leadership.