Senator Ted Cruz and his Democratic challenger, Representative Colin Allred, are at odds over issues such as abortion, the border, and transgender rights. The race is heating up as liberal supporters pour money into Allred’s campaign, with attack ads saturating the airwaves in the days leading up to the election.
Pollsters predict a tight race, with Cruz expected to narrowly secure a victory on November 5th. However, Democrats see an opportunity to potentially flip states like Texas and Florida, including Cruz’s seat, to maintain control of the upper chamber.
Cruz is actively campaigning across the state, urging Republicans to take Allred’s challenge seriously. Meanwhile, Allred is targeting Cruz on issues such as abortion rights and his response to the winter storm crisis in February 2021.
The candidates have differing views on key issues, such as securing the border, gun violence prevention, and transgender rights. Cruz aligns with Trump on border security, while Allred supports a pathway to citizenship for certain undocumented immigrants and renewable energy initiatives.
As the race tightens, both candidates are making their final appeals to voters, highlighting their positions on key issues and contrasting their visions for the state. The outcome of this closely watched race could have significant implications for the balance of power in the Senate.
In the 2018 Senate race, Cruz emerged victorious over O’Rourke by a slim margin of just over 2 percentage points.
Cruz has amassed a fundraising total exceeding $86 million. Recently, the Senate Majority PAC launched a campaign featuring $5 million worth of ads focused on abortion, which are now visible throughout Texas.
Brendan Steinhauser, a partner at the political consulting firm Steinhauser Strategies in Austin, noted that the Democrats’ financial efforts to unseat Cruz have had an impact.
“It’s evident that national Democrats are targeting Ted Cruz, much like they did in 2018, leading to a significant influx of external funds into Texas,” Steinhauser told The Epoch Times.
Despite this, Steinhauser pointed out that early voting returns indicate a strong Republican turnout, which bodes well for Cruz’s chances.
“Based on the data I’ve seen, things are looking pretty positive. The statewide outlook appears promising,” he remarked.
