Texas Senate candidates make campaign stops in Lubbock ahead of early voting

LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Texas is just days away from polls opening for early voters in the November election. One of the closest races on the ballot: the Texas Senate seat on Capitol Hill.

Political tracker FiveThirtyEight puts incumbent Republican Ted Cruz just four percentage points ahead of challenger Congressman Colin Allred of Dallas.

With a razor-thin lead, both candidates are hoping to win support in cities across the state like Lubbock.

Senator Cruz stopped at the Texas Cafe and Bar today, and Representative Allred visited Texas Tech on Saturday.

“I think every election should be decided by comparing the results of both candidates,” Cruz said. “When Congressman Allred speaks, he claims to be bipartisan. If you look at his record, you can see that he is extreme and radical.”

“Senator Cruz is the only radical in this race,” Allred said. “I have been named by third-party groups as the most bipartisan congressman in Texas.”

Cruz today highlighted his 12 years in the Senate, saying he has continually fought for jobs, freedom and security – the three pillars of his campaign.

“I-27, the Ports to Plains Corridor, will begin in Laredo and go north through West Texas, through the Panhandle, through New Mexico and into Montana,” Cruz said. “I-27 will create thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in investment here in West Texas.”

Allred also highlighted his legislative track record with measures that benefited the South Plains.

“In the legislation that I voted for with the Chips and Sciences Act, the infrastructure bill that Senator Cruz voted against, millions of dollars are flowing into the Panhandle,” Allred said.

While the two candidates have different ideas about how to help rural areas across the state, both acknowledged the importance of reaching out to these regions.

“I’m really looking forward to combating some of what I’m seeing in rural communities, particularly the ongoing health care and infrastructure crises,” Allred said.

Cruz addressed the lack of a farm bill that expired in September and its impact on farmers and ranchers in the South Plains.

“For a farmer, the cost of everything has skyrocketed – the cost of seeds, the cost of new equipment and, most importantly, the cost of energy. There will be a victory in November. I believe that Donald Trump will be elected, I believe that we will have a Republican Senate and a Republican House of Representatives, and if we do that, we will pass a farm bill,” Cruz said.

Early voting begins Monday, October 21st and continues through November 1st. Election day is November 5th.

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