Meet the Texas candidates for U.S. Senate in the Nov. 5 general election

Democrat U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, left, faces Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, for the Texas U.S. Senate seat on Nov. 5.

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz is working to win another term in Washington, as he bids against U.S. Rep. Colin Allred.

Recent polls show a close race between Cruz, a Houston Republican, and Allred, a Dallas Democrat and the contest has brought in sizable sums of money as Election Day nears.

Allred, a civil rights lawyer and former NFL player, named freedoms around women’s health care, education investment and job training and the economy as top policy prioritites. Cruz, who has represented Texas in the Senate since 2013, did not respond to the Star-Telegram’s candidate questionnaire, but his focuses on the campaign trail have included immigration, border and the economy.

Ted Cruz

Political Party: Republican

Did not respond to questionnaire.

Colin Allred

Political Party: Democrat

Age: 41

Campaign website: https://colinallred.com/

Best way for voters to reach you: info@colinallred.com

Occupation

I am proud to represent the district where I was born and raised, as the U.S. Representative for the 32nd District of Texas.

Education

Thanks to the support of my teachers, coaches, and counselors at the YMCA, I have been able to chase my version of the American dream. After graduating from Hillcrest High School in Dallas, I earned a full-ride scholarship to play football at Baylor University graduating with a degree in history. I was ready to attend law school before the NFL came knocking. I forged a career as a linebacker before going to law school where I earned a law degree and became a civil rights attorney.

Have you run for elected office before?

I am proudly serving my third term representing the district where I was born and raised as the U.S. Representative for the 32nd District of Texas. In 2018, I won in a district that I felt was not getting the representation it needed in Congress. I beat a 22-year incumbent by assembling a diverse coalition of support. That is the same approach I have taken to this campaign as I work to beat Ted Cruz and unite Texans from all backgrounds around our shared values.

Please list the highlights of your civic involvement/activism:

In Congress, I am interested in getting things done, not playing politics. It’s why I have partnered with Republicans on major bipartisan initiatives like the new VA Hospital in Garland, the US-Mexico-Canada trade deal, investing in high-tech manufacturing and in rebuilding our roads and bridges. I also worked with Texas Senator John Cornyn to pass the first meaningful federal gun safety legislation in nearly 30 years. I am also proud that I have been at the forefront of the fight to defend protections for people with pre-existing conditions under the Affordable Care Act; ensuring women can make their own reproductive health decisions; taking on Big Pharma to cap the cost of insulin and lower the costs of prescription drugs for folks on Medicare.

I have been a rare member of Congress to be endorsed by both the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and leading labor unions like the AFL-CIO in both of my re-election campaigns. More than 70% of the bills I have cosponsored have been bipartisan.

Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain:

No.

Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain:

No.

Who are your top three campaign contributors?

I have a proven track record of raising the resources needed to win. I brought in over $10.5 million in the second fundraising quarter of 2024, covering April through June, ending the quarter with $10.4 million cash-on-hand. Our campaign has raised a total of $38.4 million since launching in May, from 443,000 donors. I am proud we are already building the financial foundation needed to win this race so Texans don’t have to be embarrassed by their Senator.

Why are you seeking this office?

I am a fourth generation Texan and people from across this state have shaped my life. My campaign is about freedom and restoring Texans’ freedoms. We cannot afford six more years of Ted Cruz. I know we can still work together to do big things. In Congress, I have shown that we can create jobs by investing in infrastructure and high-tech manufacturing; we can lower costs; we can protect and expand access to affordable health care. All of this is possible when we put aside partisan politics and work together. That is something Ted Cruz has no interest in. The extreme abortion ban in our state is Ted Cruz’s fault, and it has forced women to flee our state for life-saving care. He tanked a bipartisan border bill that would have helped Texas secure the border. He vowed to repeal the Affordable Care Act and supports cuts to Medicare and Social Security that would jeopardize our seniors’ retirement security. He does not care about delivering for Texas, he only cares about himself.

What are your top 3 policy priorities?

We must protect the freedoms of all Texans. That includes the freedom of Texas women to make their own choices about health care — not politicians like Ted Cruz. And protect the freedom to get ahead if you work hard by investing in education and job training, lowering costs and growing our economy so everyone can have access to the ladders of opportunity they need to succeed. It also means working with both parties to secure our border and have an immigration system that better meets the needs of our economy.

Why should voters choose you over your opponent(s)?

Texas cannot afford six more years of Ted Cruz’s divisive politics that pit Texans against each other. We deserve a Senator who doesn’t jet off to Cancun while Texans are freezing in the dark. Who cares more about your job, health care, retirement and kids’ education than hosting a podcast three times a week. Who will restore access to abortion and restore the protections of Roe v. Wade, instead of one who is singularly responsible for the harmful Texas abortion ban. A ban that goes too far and is forcing Texas women to flee our state to get the essential, often life-saving care they need. We deserve a Senator who takes border security seriously, not one who votes against securing the border to benefit himself. I am running for Senate to give Texans the honest, pragmatic leadership we deserve, to ensure Social Security and Medicare are protected from politicians like Ted Cruz, who have spent their careers trying to take those programs away.

What is the biggest challenge facing Texas, and what is your plan to address it?

The freedoms we used to take for granted are under attack: the freedom to access an abortion, the freedom to get a good job with a good paycheck and get ahead, the freedom to live in a safe neighborhood with a secure border and the freedom to retire with dignity.

It is people like Ted Cruz who put those freedoms at risk in service of their own political power and partisan interests. The abortion ban in Texas is Cruz’s fault, and he repeatedly attacks programs like Social Security and Medicare, all while opposing efforts to lower costs – like capping insulin at $35 for folks on Medicare.

Whether it is restoring women’s right to get the health care they need, fighting to lower costs and create jobs or working to secure our border – I will always roll up my sleeves and work with folks in both parties to get things done. That is something we have never seen in the 12 years Ted Cruz has been in the Senate.

How would you measure your success as a member of the U.S. Senate?

I was raised by a single mother who was a public school teacher. It wasn’t always easy for us. In the U.S. Senate I will always work to be a Senator that is working just as hard as the single mom out there. We all know Ted Cruz hasn’t been doing the job, and only cares about himself. When you grow up like I did, you do not have time for theoretical legislation, you need to have things passed into law that will make an impact on your life. I will judge myself on my ability to get things done for Texas.

What are your federal funding priorities for the state of Texas?

I was born and raised by a single mom, and I know how bills can add up at the end of the month and what it is like to clip coupons. Our federal budget must reflect our values as Americans and should focus on lowering costs for Texas families. I am worried about federal spending and our growing deficit and will continue to find common-sense ways we can balance our budget like I did with the Inflation Reduction Act which is going to save Medicare an estimated $98.5 billion over the next 10 years and will help the IRS crackdown on wealthy tax cheats. I also think we need to look for innovative solutions that save taxpayers money like I did with the Garland VA hospital, where having Baylor, Scott and White donate their shuttered hospital to the VA saved taxpayers an estimated $800 million.

What should lawmakers in D.C. do to address border security along the Texas-Mexico border and immigration?

My mom was raised in Brownsville and I often spent summers visiting my grandmother there. I know our current immigration system is broken and our border communities are bearing the brunt. I support comprehensive immigration reform that includes securing our border, speeding up and clarifying our asylum process, protecting our Dreamers and providing a pathway to citizenship for those who are working hard and obey the law, all while matching our immigration system to the needs of our economy. I am a strong supporter of the Bipartisan Border Deal in the Senate, which Ted Cruz blocked so that he could campaign on this issue instead of fixing it. No state would have benefited more from it than Texas. I am also a cosponsor of the bipartisan Dignity Act, which I believe could be the foundation for the comprehensive reforms we need. I am focused on serious and real solutions, not cruel political stunts that don’t represent our values or solve problems.

How would you assess the current presidential administrations’ handling of immigration and border security along the southern border?

This administration has too often been too slow to react to the crisis at our border. Too slow to work to give communities relief. I was pleased to see a Bipartisan Border Bill emerge in the Senate which no state would benefit more from than Texas. But instead of working to get this done, and actually solve the problem, Ted Cruz helped kill the bill. Not because of policy, but because of politics. In the House, I have shown that I’m not afraid to stand up to my own party when they are wrong and I have done that several times by standing up to the Biden-Harris administration when they have failed to address the needs of Texas border communities. Texans can count on me to do the same in the Senate because I will always put our state first.

Should the federal government take any steps protect IVF access and/or regulate the storage of embryos? What should be done?

I am a fourth generation Texan, and in Texas we believe in freedom. But now the freedom to decide when and how you start a family is at risk, and it is at risk because of politicians like Ted Cruz. Ted Cruz is responsible for Roe v. Wade being overturned, and for Texas’ abortion ban that has no exceptions for rape, incest or health of the mother, which endangers women and puts IVF at risk. IVF has allowed so many in Texas to realize the joy of becoming parents, and I will always fight to protect access to IVF and the ability of Texans to make their own health care decisions in consultation with their doctor, faith and family. We must pass the Right to IVF Act, which Ted Cruz voted against, to ensure all Americans have the right to access IVF.

What federal laws, if any, would you support that relate to abortion access or restrictions?

My wife and I were lucky to have two healthy boys, and I cannot imagine what it would have been like if the doctor at one of those early appointments had said that something was wrong with our baby but there was nothing they could do about it because politicians like Ted Cruz decided they knew better than doctors.

I believe women should have the freedom to make their own reproductive health care decisions, without interference from politicians like Ted Cruz. I strongly opposed the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision and I support legislation to make the protections under Roe v. Wade the law of the land. I have supported this legislation in Congress and will fight to get it passed in the Senate.

What would you do in the U.S. Senate to support road, water and other infrastructure needs in Texas?

I was proud to support both the CHIPS Act, the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law which all were passed into law and are already delivering results. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in particular supports good-paying jobs across multiple sectors. As a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I am proud that $323.4 billion has already been invested in transportation infrastructure like bridges, roads, rail, and public transit. Ted Cruz voted against this legislation because he cares more about politics than investing in our infrastructure and creating jobs.

What steps, if any, should the U.S. Senate take to support Texas’ energy industry – be it oil and gas and/or renewable resources?

I am a fourth-generation Texan. No one has to tell me the importance of energy jobs to our economy, and that includes oil and gas jobs. That’s why I am laser focused on an all-of-the-above energy strategy that keeps costs low, creates jobs and helps make our electric grid more reliable. Texas is an energy leader and I will continue to support responsible oil and gas production as I have done during my time in Congress. I have also stood up to my party when they get it wrong on Texas energy, which is why I oppose the LNG export pause instituted by the Biden Administration.

I will always work to continue our leadership as the number one energy-producing state, and I believe that Texas can and should lead on renewable and clean energy, creating good-paying jobs for hard-working Texans and protecting the planet for future generations. We are already doing it with wind and solar energy – Texas leads the nation in wind energy production and ranks first in solar energy production.

Should the U.S. send additional foreign aid to Israel and Ukraine? Why or why not?

I disagree with those who say we must choose between defending democracy abroad and standing up to authoritarianism and taking care of Americans here at home. We can and should do both. The U.S. must continue to support Ukraine against Russia’s unjust war. I remain a strong supporter of providing Ukraine with the tools it needs to defend its democracy against Russia’s unjust invasion. Protecting our democratic allies against Russia and other aggressors is vital to our national interest and to ensuring that American troops are not needed to stop a Russia that is seeking to reconstitute the Soviet Union. That’s why I was proud to support the bipartisan foreign aid package that invested in Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan and provided humanitarian aid to Gaza.

I am proudly a steadfast ally and supporter of Israel and its right to defend itself. We also need a negotiated end to the war that brings home all of the hostages still held by Hamas and brings an end to the civilian suffering in Gaza.

What’s an issue that doesn’t make as many headlines but is important to you? Why is it important?

I didn’t know my father. So when my wife Aly and I decided to have kids I knew I would do it differently. I was the first Member of Congress to take paternity leave to be with my family after the birth of both our sons. I wanted to lead by example because paid family leave leads to better outcomes for everyone involved, it strengthens our workforce, is good for our economy, and also leads to healthier families. Every American should have access to paid family and medical leave, so they can be there for their family, just like I had the chance to. I am proud to be working as part of the Bipartisan Paid Leave Working Group to get this done, and ensure every American can access paid family and medical leave.

What steps will you take to communicate with constituents about their concerns, needs and the actions of the U.S. Senate?

I don’t believe that traveling to D.C. should be a barrier for meeting with your Senator. In Congress, I have prioritized being accessible to my constituents and meeting them where they are whether that be virtually or by holding meetings and mobile office hours throughout my district, I will continue doing so in the Senate. I know that in order to best represent Texans, I need to hear directly from them about the issues facing their communities. That is why as your Senator, I will make it a priority to hear from and meet with leaders and advocates from a broad range of communities all across Texas. Ted Cruz has been there forever, and time and time again he has proven he doesn’t care about listening to Texans. He only cares about himself.

If different party majorities hold the U.S. House and U.S. Senate, how will you work to make sure bills get passed and to the president’s desk, rather than stalling in the opposite chamber?

As the most bipartisan Texan in Congress, I know how to work across the aisle to get things done for Texas. I am proud to have been endorsed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce during both of my re-election campaigns and to be a recipient of the Chamber’s Jefferson-Hamilton Award For Bipartisanship. 70% of the bills I have cosponsored have been bipartisan, and a number of those became law including the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the CHIPS Act, and the Building Chips in America Act to reduce unnecessary bureaucratic delays from semiconductor investment. That’s the approach I have taken in the House, and that’s the same approach I’ll take as your Senator. We all know Ted Cruz won’t be a part of bipartisan solutions.