Democratic Rep. Colin Allred launches 2024 Senate campaign to challenge Texas Sen. Ted Cruz
Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas, launched his Senate campaign Wednesday, challenging incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, for his seat in 2024.
Allred, who currently represents the 32nd congressional district in Texas, announced his Senate run with a three-minute video posted to Twitter while also criticizing Cruz.
“I’m running for U.S. Senate because Texans deserve a Senator whose team is Texas,” Allred tweeted. “Ted Cruz only cares about himself.”
Cruz, who is seeking his third term in the chamber, has been at the center of a fair amount of controversy throughout his legislative career. The senator faced immense criticism in February 2021 after traveling to Cancun while Texas faced the crippling effects of an unprecedent winter storm.
“He wants to divide us," Allred said in his campaign video. "To get people to fear their neighbors and turn on their teachers. He’d ban books, outlaw all abortions and cut Social Security and Medicare.”
In response to Allred's announcement, Cruz's campaign called the congressman's voting record "completely out-of-touch with Texas," referring to Allred's support for gun reform legislation, including universal background checks and red-flag laws.
"Bottom line, Allred is too extreme for Texas," Cruz spokesperson Nick Maddux said. "Thankfully, the Lone Star State has a tireless champion in Sen. Ted Cruz. For over a decade, Sen. Cruz has been leading the fight for jobs, freedom, and security in Texas."
Allred, a former NFL player and civil rights attorney, is serving his third term in the House after winning reelection in 2022. The Texas lawmaker was first elected to Congress in 2018 after defeating Republican incumbent Pete Sessions.
“We don’t have to be embarrassed by our senator,” he added. “We can get a new one.”