A world of difference was on display as U.S. Rep. Colin Allred and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz teed off in their first primetime debate this week ahead of the Texas Senate election next month.
The debate took place Tuesday, Oct. 15, in Dallas. Moderators questioned the candidates on hot-button issues such as abortion, the ongoing war in Israel, inflation, border policy, housing prices and more in a debate that lasted an hour.
To be sure, there was little in the way of contrast needed between the two candidates — Allred, D-Dallas, and Cruz, R-TX, represent wildly different political views — but the debate provided voters with an opportunity to see just how well one could stand up to the other.
Allred has an uphill battle in the Nov. 5 election as he seeks to unseat the entrenched Cruz, who is now seeking his third term in the U.S. Senate. Amid tight poll numbers, Cruz continues to hold a slim lead in the race with only weeks to go before the election.
Here are key takeaways from the candidates’ first — and likely only — debate before Election Day, Nov. 5.
Jabs begin at onset
Neither Cruz nor Allred spared any time on pleasantries.
After briefly introducing himself to the viewing audience across Texas, Allred immediately chided Cruz for his infamous jaunt to Cancun in 2021 as Texas faced its worst energy crisis in history and millions were left without electricity, water or food.
“We don’t have to be embarrassed by our senator,” he said. “We can get a new one.”
For his part, Cruz struck a pleasant tone in his opening remarks, noting how incredible it is that he, the son of Cuban immigrants, and Allred, raised by a single mother, could both have the privilege of representing Texas in Congress.
