Rep. Colin Allred won the Democratic primary on Super Tuesday to face Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas in the November election, which is expected to be closely watched. The Democrats have a slim majority in the Senate, and they are likely to lose Sen. Joe Manchin’s seat in West Virginia. Allred will face a tough challenge as no Democrat has won a statewide race in Texas in 30 years, despite former Democratic Rep. Beto O’Rourke coming within three points of Cruz in 2018. O’Rourke raised a record $38 million in a single quarter during that race.
Sen. Ted Cruz, 53, was first elected to the Senate in 2012 and is known for being a conservative firebrand. He ran for president in 2016 and won the second-most delegates after Donald Trump. Cruz initially did not endorse Trump and criticized him at the 2016 Republican National Convention. In 2018, Cruz faced a tough challenge from O’Rourke but ultimately won his reelection bid. Cruz made headlines in 2021 for leaving Texas for Mexico during an ice storm, which he later called a mistake. Despite this, Cruz has already raised over $46 million for the 2024 election.
Rep. Colin Allred, a former NFL player, was elected to the House in 2018 when the Democrats regained control. He was one of two Democrats who flipped U.S. House seats in Texas that year. Allred joined with Republicans in a resolution to condemn President Biden over his immigration policies. If elected, Allred would be the first Black senator from Texas. He raised over $21 million for the 2024 race and faced a number of challengers, including Texas state Sen. Roland Gutierrez. Allred has been critical of Cruz, mocking him for his actions during the 2021 ice storm.
The race between Allred and Cruz is expected to be closely watched, as Texas has not elected a Democrat to a statewide office in three decades. Although O’Rourke came close in 2018, Allred faces an uphill battle. Cruz is a well-known conservative figure who has strong fundraising capabilities and a loyal base of supporters. Allred’s background as a former NFL player and his success in flipping House seats in 2018 may give him an edge in appealing to voters in Texas. The outcome of this race will be significant for both parties as they vie for control of the Senate.
