Colin Allred Challenges Ted Cruz for Senate Seat in Texas

Senator Ted Cruz dismissed Representative Colin Allred as a nonplayer in Congress, stating that they have never even crossed paths despite serving together for over four years. Allred launched his 2024 Senate bid by accusing Cruz of egging on Jan. 6 rioters, preferring to "whip up phony culture wars" over addressing real problems, and fleeing to Cancun as Texans suffered during a deadly blizzard. Cruz called Allred a "radical leftist" and too liberal for Texas, while Allred cast himself as a pragmatic, bipartisan problem solver. Partisanship has grown since Cruz's predecessor, fellow Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison, regularly hosted lunches for the entire Texas delegation that brought together officials from both parties.