Ted Cruz vs. Colin Allred: Who will shape the future of Texas?

Border business in Texas

What separates them?

In a heated debate live from downtown Dallas, Texas, incumbent Senator Ted Cruz and challenger Congressman Colin Allred faced off just three weeks before the November election. Both men laid out their visions for Texas and differed greatly in their views on border security, abortion, the economy and more. Over the course of the evening, Ted Cruz emerged as a seasoned, battle-hardened defender of Texas values, while Colin Allred sought to present himself as a fresh voice ready to effect meaningful change. Here’s a closer look at what happened.

Border security

On the border issue, the divide between Cruz and Allred was wide. Cruz positioned himself as a long-time advocate of strict border control and pointed to his work with former President Donald Trump, which he said led to the lowest illegal immigration numbers in decades. Cruz repeatedly criticized Allred for his “soft” stance on border security, accused him of voting against border walls and called Trump’s border wall “racist.”

Allred, who has roots in a border community, took a more complicated approach, arguing that border security requires a combination of physical barriers, manpower and technology. He criticized Cruz for having “all hat and no cattle” and accused him of failing to take meaningful action despite his tough rhetoric.

Winners at the border: Cruz came out on top with his proven track record and emphasis on concrete action, while Allred struggled to shake off accusations of inconsistency and ineffective policies.

abortion

The issue of abortion sparked perhaps the most heated arguments that evening. Cruz argued that this was after the Supreme Court’s overturn decision Roe v. WadeIt is up to each state to decide on its abortion laws. He said: “I agree with the Supreme Court of the United States that under our Constitution, the way we resolve issues like this, issues on which we have real disagreements, is by voting at the ballot box .” And that’s why the legal situation now is that the legislature in Austin sets the laws in Texas.”

He also highlighted Allred’s voting record, accusing him of supporting abortion up to nine months and eliminating Texas’ parental notification laws. Cruz took a clear stance on pro-life and parental rights.

Allred, meanwhile, made a personal plea, arguing that Texas’ restrictive laws were harming real women and citing stories of Texans who had to leave the state for life-saving health care. He called for the Roe v. Wade and criticized Cruz for supporting laws that force victims of rape and incest to carry pregnancies to term.

Winners on abortion: Cruz remained true to conservative Texas values, but Allred’s emotional appeal and focus on health care were not enough to make a difference among voters concerned about the human impact of current laws.

The economy

Cruz and Allred both outlined their plans for addressing Texas’ economic concerns. Cruz directly linked the state’s inflation problems to the Biden administration’s policies and accused Allred of supporting a “spending spree” that has hurt Texas’ working class. He praised his work on the Trump tax cuts in 2017, which he credited with reducing unemployment and boosting the economy.

But Allred focused on reducing costs for Texas families, including his support for capping insulin prices and expanding affordable housing. He portrayed Cruz as out of touch with ordinary Texans and pointed to Cruz’s opposition to capping the cost of insulin for all Americans as a sign of his loyalty to big corporations rather than working families.

Winners in the field of economics: Cruz’s arguments for energy independence and criticism of Democrats’ overspending were strong. Allred’s focus on affordability resonated widely, particularly with middle-class and low-income voters. However, conservatives are not happy if this means giving more money.

Cruz clarified that he voted to lower the price of insulin to $1 per vial and said Democrats had blocked it. He also said that President Trump has implemented a program to provide affordable insulin. They pulled this out as soon as Joe Biden and Kamala Harris took office.

Transgender rights and women’s sports

This issue has been a major flashpoint as Cruz accused Allred of supporting legislation that would allow transgender women to participate in women’s sports, calling it a fundamental issue of fairness. Cruz repeatedly pointed to Allred’s voting record in Congress as evidence of what he described as extreme, radical positions on the issue.

Allred dismissed those claims, calling them a distraction from more pressing issues like health care and the economy. While Allred stated that he did not support boys’ participation in girls’ sports, he focused on the broader need for equality and non-discrimination.

Transgender Rights and Sports Winners: Cruz rallied his conservative base with a clear stance on protecting women’s sports, while Allred’s broader response didn’t resonate as much.

Throughout the debate, Ted Cruz drew on his years of experience and legislative accomplishments to portray himself as the true defender of Texas, emphasizing his role in keeping the state strong on border security, the economy and conservative values. In contrast, Allred sought to focus on the human stories behind policies and presented himself as a new kind of leader who would bring practical, compassionate change to Texas.

But in terms of pure debate points, Cruz’s clear articulation of his record and forceful refutations of Allred’s accusations made him the night’s winner. He consistently kept Allred on the defensive, leveraging his long tenure in the Senate and his ability to focus the debate on Texas’ deepest values.

With the election approaching, Ted Cruz’s performance in this debate could solidify his base and appeal to undecided voters, emphasizing experience and proven conservative leadership. While Allred argued passionately for change, Cruz was the stronger candidate for Texas in the U.S. Senate because of his solid understanding of Texas politics and his focus on action over rhetoric.