On Sunday, exactly 100 days before the November election, Texas Democrats launched a new initiative to unseat U.S. Senator Ted Cruz. The “Texas Offense” initiative aims to support Democratic U.S. Congressman Colin Allred, a former NFL linebacker and attorney, in his campaign to defeat Cruz.
“On Nov. 5, I’m going to defeat Ted Cruz,” Allred declared to the crowd at White Oak Music Hall.
State Senator Carol Alvarado added, “In 100 days, we can say adios to Cruz and send him on a one-way flight to Cancun.”
Despite polls showing Cruz, who has held his seat for 12 years, as the frontrunner and having $2 million more in campaign funds than Allred, the congressman remains optimistic. Allred has outfundraised Cruz’s previous challenger, Beto O’Rourke, who narrowly lost to Cruz by three percentage points.
“I’m very hopeful that we actually will defeat Cruz. I think there’s a lot of excitement,” said Susan Pollard from Moms Demand Action.
Gun safety, border policy, and women’s reproductive rights were top issues driving Allred’s supporters to the rally.
Allred’s speech was twice interrupted by protests against the war in Gaza. Earlier this year, Allred diverged from the Texas Democratic Party by not joining their call for a ceasefire, instead supporting Israel’s continuation of the war with a commitment to international law.
Speakers at the event also tried to build on the momentum from Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris’s nomination. There is concern among Democrats that President Biden’s low polling numbers could negatively impact state races.
Precinct One Commissioner Adrian Garcia referred to the county as “Kamala ‘Harris’ County,” a sentiment echoed throughout the event.
Earlier in the week, Cruz criticized Allred to, saying he “bears full responsibility for the disastrous policies of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris,” and described Allred as “extremely liberal” and “radical.”
Voteview data ranks Allred as the 69th most liberal Democratic U.S. Representative out of more than 200, reflecting his voting behavior. Cruz also pointed out that Allred voted “100 percent with Nancy Pelosi” during his first four years in Congress.
