Republican Sen. Ted Cruz and Democratic Rep. Colin Allred engaged in a heated debate in the Texas Senate race, with Cruz presenting himself as a conservative fighter for Texas and Allred portraying Cruz as an ineffective extremist. Allred criticized Cruz for his response to the Texas winter storm, his actions during the Capitol riot, and his stance on border security, while Cruz dismissed Allred’s attacks as mere words without substance. Polls show a close race between the two candidates, with Democrats hoping for an upset victory in traditionally Republican Texas.
Cruz attacked Allred on energy policy, inflation, and transgender athletes, accusing him of supporting boys playing in girls’ sports. Allred defended his record and criticized Cruz’s stance on abortion, accusing him of not supporting exceptions for rape and incest. Allred positioned himself as bipartisan and accused Cruz of being focused only on himself and transitioning his image for the election.
In response, Cruz criticized Democrats for their support of abortion rights without restrictions, labeling it as an extremist position. When asked about pardoning Jan. 6 rioters, Cruz avoided the question and instead focused on prosecuting criminals, referencing antifa and Black Lives Matter riots. Allred directly called Cruz a threat to democracy, highlighting their fundamental differences on key issues. The debate showcased the intense competition between the two candidates in a race that will have significant implications for Senate control.
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