Iffat Yosifor/KERA
Colin Allred is running for the US Senate with the aim of unseating Ted Cruz.
Early voting has already begun in Texas for the November election, and the biggest issue in the statewide vote is between Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and U.S. Rep. Collin, who are running for three six-year terms. The Senate election campaign will be held in Mr. Allred is a Democrat and currently represents Texas’ 32nd Congressional District in Washington state.
The winner will join Republican John Cornyn as one of two senators from the Lone Star State.
Nationally, the race is shaping up to be one of the most-watched campaigns of 2024, with Allred leading Cruise in the fundraising battle and one of the most expensive. The campaign has raised about $132 million so far, the Texas Tribune reported.
Mr. Allred’s fundraising success is due, in part, to the fact that Democratic leaders see him as a candidate to win the seat.
“I think it’s both Allred and the incumbent that they (the Democratic National Committee) are willing to put money into this race, but at the same time, this is the year of the president,” Texas Newsroom. told Texas Newsroom. . “That would not only bring in more voters, but it would bring in a different demographic of voters than in the midterm elections.”
In the most recent fundraising quarter, the North Texas congressman raised more than $30 million, compared to $21 million for the incumbent Republican.
Who is Colin Allred?
Born and raised in Dallas, Allred grew up playing soccer. His success on the field while attending Hillcrest High School led him to play at Baylor University and eventually in the NFL. Allred played five seasons with the Tennessee Titans.
This experience is something Allred touts frequently over the course of his campaign.
“I’m someone who has never approached things from a purely partisan perspective,” Allred said in an interview in early September. “I think when you’re a football player and you come from the kind of background that I’ve had, you’re more focused on results and things like that. So for me, I feel like in a results-oriented business. , so my job is to serve the people who are working hard.”
After the injury, he quit football and became a civil rights attorney, eventually working for the Department of Housing and Urban Development during the Obama administration.
In 2018, Allred ran for and won the Texas 32nd Congressional District seat. The district, which includes parts of Dallas and surrounding cities, has long been represented by Republicans.
Supporters argue that his legal background led to his success in Washington.
“As a civil rights lawyer, he kind of understands the give and take when you have to make laws,” said Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price, who is supporting Allred in the U.S. Senate race. he said.
Dean said Allred is also considered a rising star in the Democratic Party.
“His speech at the Democratic National Convention the other day, of course, really raised his stature,” she said.
Considering that, and the fact that Mr. Cruz won re-election in 2018 against Beto O’Rourke by just over 200,000 votes, the Texas Senate race is likely to be flipped by Democrats nationwide. It’s one of the few seats I think there is.
Polls currently show Allred leading Cruz by as little as 1 point, or as much as 7 points, depending on how you look at it.
abortion
Texas has some of the strictest abortion laws in the nation. There are no exceptions for rape or incest, and polls show that the majority of Americans support this.
Allred, who has made abortion a key issue in her campaign and the subject of several campaign ads, has frequently said she agrees with most Americans and Texans who believe in exceptions. There is.
In the only debate between candidates, Allred told Cruz: “26,000 Texas women are being forced to bear the children of rapists under this law that you say is perfectly reasonable.” ” and added that “we believe Texas women are in charge of their own health.” ”
If elected, he said he would “restore a woman’s right to choose” and “make Roe v. Wade the law of the land again.”
In a recent interview with KERA, Allred said, “Ted Cruz has gone too far, and his extreme statements have now become extreme policies that impact Texans every day.” A complete abortion ban is having a dire impact on Texas.” A woman and her family in Texas. ”
Borders and immigration
Mr. Allred has been outspoken on U.S. immigration reform and strengthening border security, sometimes at odds with Democrats in Washington.
“We’re going to make sure that we not only recognize that we have a problem and that we still have a problem, but also secure our borders and reform our immigration system,” he recently told KERA. ” he said.
Allred was alluding to his controversial vote earlier this year when he was one of only three Democrats to vote with Republicans on a resolution condemning the Biden administration’s border policies. “The Biden Administration brazenly eliminated the Trump Administration’s effective and lawful immigration enforcement policies, leading directly to the worst border crisis in our nation’s history, affecting every state,” the resolution reads. It contained strong criticism of the government, including the words:
The vote drew enthusiastic support from Democrats, including his primary challenger, Texas Sen. Rolando Gutierrez, who said he was “siding with Republican extremists” on the issue. blamed Mr. Allred.
“Almost centrist”
Allred’s campaign is targeting both traditional Democratic voters in Texas and more centrist and moderate voters.
Appearing on the “Bulwark” podcast last month, Allred urged people who believe in conservative values such as the Constitution, the rule of law and accountability to consider voting for him.
“Everyone who lives in Texas feels they’re conservative and they believe in those things. But they’re moderates and they’re the ones who feel that way,” he said. . “They don’t see themselves reflected in this version of the Republican Party. They’re welcome here.”
This type of appeal to the Republican Party may have helped him win the approval and support of Republicans such as former Vice President Dick Cheney and his daughter, former U.S. Representative Liz Cheney.
Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price told Texas Newsroom that Allred is “as close to a centrist as I can tell.”
Rebecca Dean of UT Arlington said this may be more a matter of perception than reality.
“I think most people would lean towards his policies on the left or the progressive side, but he presents things in a very moderate way,” Dean said, adding that Allred said he doesn’t want to “reject any kind of flare-up.” I don’t think it’s a radiator either. He’s coming.” Overall, I’d say he’s very reasonable, very wise, very intelligent, and very knowledgeable about policy issues. ”
housing and economy
Allred’s campaign message on the economy is similar to what both Democrats and Republicans have been touting heading into November. Allred recently told KERA that she wants to lower the cost of groceries and other things her family spends money on.
Citing her own upbringing with a single mother, Allred said, “Money wasn’t always on the line. And when you’re standing in line at the grocery store, you swipe your debit card and say a little prayer.” He said he understood that.
Regarding the current housing crisis facing many Americans, Allred said he wants to follow Vice President Harris’ plan to “increase the supply of housing and make sure we lower the overall cost of housing.”
Democrats also said they want to “continue to lower child care costs and lower health care costs, just like we did when we capped insulin costs for Medicare enrollees at $35 a month.”
But Allred also understands that winning in the traditionally Republican state will not be easy, given Texas’ historically low voter turnout.
“We’re a no-voting state,” he told KERA, adding that as a voting rights lawyer, part of that is due to “not just the duplication of laws, but the sense that you can get into trouble. ”, he added. ”
The latter part he blames on the state’s current leadership.
“There are a lot of Texans who are looking for people who will not only be on their side, but will be on their side, and I want to make sure those people are involved in this campaign,” Allred said. I want to.” ”
With a few weeks left until Election Day, Mr. Allred will soon find out whether his line-based approach has worked.
