Texas U.S. Senate candidates face a close race in the lead up to Election Day

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - In the deeply red Lone Star State, Republican incumbent Senator Ted Cruz is facing a tough fight from his opponent, Democratic Congressman Colin Allred, in the final weeks of the U.S. Senate race there.

A number of polls show Allred gaining on Cruz recently, with Sen. Cruz only leading by a few points and one poll even reporting that Allred has the lead.

The race has also recently seen millions of dollars in new ads from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and one election forecaster has even changed the race from likely Republican to lean Republican.

While the poll numbers are energizing Democrats, Sen. Cruz said they are just a sign of the times.

“Listen, we’re a divided country right now, but I got to say, I think every election should be a contrast in the records between the two candidates and my record and Colin Allred’s record are dramatically different,” said the senator.

Rep. Allred does not see the close poll numbers in the same way, and said he thinks Texans are ready to go in a different direction and want someone who has a record of working across the aisle.

“I have served in Congress in a way, it shows it’s possible to bring folks together. I’m the most bipartisan Texan in Congress, which is a pretty big contrast from Ted Cruz,” said Rep. Allred.

In August, the congressman’s office published a press release stating that he earned the highest score for bipartisanship out of any member of the Texas congressional delegation from the Common Ground Committee.

Sen. Cruz is also pointing out his recent legislative achievements that were bipartisan. Those include the Building Chips in America Act that he sponsored with Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), which will reform the permitting process for CHIPS Act manufacturing plant projects to allow them to be built more quickly, and his push to build bridges more quickly for trade on the US-Mexico border.

Sen. Cruz is also highlighting his record in the Senate, and said he has been fighting for jobs, freedom and security for his last 12 years there.

“There are a lot of reasons people come to Texas, but the number one reason is Texas is where the jobs are. And we got to fight to protect that. You know, the theme of my campaign is Keep Texas, Texas,” he said.

For Congressmen Allred, his priorities include immigration reforms, securing the border and improving the economy.

“I’ve been so focused on lowering Texans costs everywhere I can, from prescription drugs to your health care costs, trying to attack our housing issues, and the cost of living that we’re having to address, particularly, across Texas,” he said.

Fighting for reproductive rights is also a key issue for Allred in a state that has a near total abortion ban.

“We’re experiencing in Texas what a near total ban on abortion looks like,” said Rep. Allred. “And it’s gone way too far. And it’s impacting and having a really horrific impact on Texas families and Texas women... We believe in freedom. I’m a fourth generation Texan. I know that about us, and this is not it. And so we have to restore that by beating Ted Cruz and going back to Roe v Wade.”

If Allred prevails, it would be a major win for Democrats, who have not won a statewide race in Texas since 1994.

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