In a high-stakes race, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) delivered a commanding debate performance on Wednesday night against Rep. Colin Allred (D-TX), hitting him hard on key issues. Allred struggled, contradicting himself and falling into traps set by Cruz, who aimed to expose Allred’s radical voting record despite his claims of moderation.
Cruz highlighted Allred’s positions on gender issues, pointing out his support for legislation like the Equality Act, which Cruz argued opens the door for men to compete in women’s sports and access female-only spaces. “He’s voted four times for boys to play in girls’ sports,” Cruz said, adding, “That’s not Texas, but that’s his voting record.”
Throughout the debate, Cruz emphasized Allred’s alignment with far-left policies, contrasting them with his own record of working alongside former President Trump on border security, producing what he described as the “lowest rate of illegal immigration in 40 years.”
On abortion, Cruz accused Allred of supporting late-term abortions by voting for federal legislation that would have legalized the practice nationwide. Cruz also tied Allred to the Democratic Party’s approach to the Israel-Hamas conflict, noting Allred’s past association with figures who have made inflammatory statements about Israel. “Right now, Kamala Harris and Colin Allred both want the votes of the anti-Semites on college campuses,” Cruz said. “I don’t want their votes.”
Cruz’s relentless critique left Allred on the defensive, particularly on the issue of border security. While Allred has portrayed himself as tough on immigration, Cruz pointed out his voting record against measures to secure the border. Cruz stated, “Colin Allred has voted against the wall three times and called it a ‘racist border wall.’”
In the end, Cruz dismantled Allred’s campaign narrative, portraying him as a reliable vote for Chuck Schumer’s Democratic agenda and warning that a victory for Allred would mean a continuation of the policies of Kamala Harris and Joe Biden.