Rep. Colin Allred launches campaign to unseat Sen. Ted Cruz
DALLAS (CBSNewsTexas.com) -- In a campaign video released on You Tube this morning, Democratic Rep. Colin Allred announced he is running for U.S. Senate against two-term Republican incumbent Ted Cruz.
In the video, Allred sharply criticized Cruz for his comments before January 6th and for going to Cancun, Mexico with his family during a severe winter storm that resulted in deadly widespread power outages in Texas in February, 2021.
He called Cruz "all hat, no cattle."
Allred is now in his third term representing the 32nd Congressional District.
Allred defeated longtime Republican Congressman Pete Sessions in 2018, in what was then considered a purple district. After redistricting last year, his district is now considered a safe Democratic seat.
Before serving in Congress, Allred was a player for the NFL's Tennessee Titans.
He went on to become a civil rights attorney who served under HUD Secretary Julian Castro during the Obama administration.
Last year, Allred invited then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi to Dallas to discuss healthcare issues and has appeared with U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg when he has visited DFW International Airport and DART.
He has also highlighted his efforts to work with Republican members of Congress from North Texas to build a new VA Hospital in Garland.
Some local Democratic party activists tells CBS News Texas they believe Allred is their best candidate to defeat Cruz.
But Allred may soon have company.
The San Antonio News Express reported last month that Texas State Sen. Roland Gutierrez (D-San Antonio) will likely run against Cruz as well once the regular legislative session ends later this month.
Gutierrez represents Uvalde, the site of the massacre at Robb Elementary School, in which 19 students and two teachers were shot and killed nearly one year ago.
The state Senator has pressed for more restrictions on guns and ammunition, but his bills haven't advanced in the Senate.
When asked about a potential U.S. Senate race last week at a news conference at the Texas Capitol Gutierrez said, "I'm here for the next five weeks to do the work here for the next weeks. My wife will sit down, and I will decide those things down the road. What's most important to me is my community."
The Cruz campaign released this statement Wednesday morning after Allred's announcement:
"Democrats have once again turned to a far-left radical to run for Senate. Not only does Colin Allred vote with Nancy Pelosi 100% of the time, but his voting record is completely out-of-touch with Texas. Allred wants men to compete in women's sports, isn't serious about addressing the crisis at the border, wants to take away law-abiding Texans' guns, and is soft on punishing murderers. Bottom line, Allred is too extreme for Texas. Thankfully, the Lone Star State has a tireless champion in Sen. Ted Cruz. For over a decade, Sen. Cruz has been leading the fight for jobs, freedom, and security in Texas. As Senator for Texas, Sen. Cruz will continue to do everything he can to bring more jobs to Texas, fight out-of-control government spending, and support the oil and gas industry from the attacks of Democrats like Joe Biden and Colin Allred."
In response to Allred's announcement, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) said, "With record inflation, a crisis at our southern border, and Joe Biden at the top of the ticket, Chuck Schumer and the Democrats are dreaming if they think they're going to beat Ted Cruz in Texas in 2024."
Following Allred's campaign launch, U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey (D-Fort Worth) tweeted, "You got this Colin!!!"
Veasey told CBS News Texas, "I'm excited and I think Colin has an amazing opportunity to be the Senator on Jan. 3, 2025. Colin has really distinguished himself in the House of Representatives."
Miguel Solis, a former Dallas ISD Trustee, who's now active in Democratic party politics in Dallas County told CBS News Texas that Allred has already generated buzz locally. "You could not ask for a better candidate. My phone has been blowing up this morning with people extremely excited knowing that Colin's going to be running."
Solis said Allred shouldn't be underestimated. "Here's a guy who knocked off a long-term Republican incumbent for Congress, has been wildly popular in his district."
Cruz and other Republicans criticize Allred for voting 100% of the time with former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.
Dallas County GOP Chair Jennifer Stoddard-Hajdu said Cruz has nothing to worry about because Allred is not in sync with Texas voters. "I don't think Colin Allred has shown that he's interested in the southern border. I just don't see Texans are going to embrace the kinds of policies we've seen Colin Allred support."
She called Cruz an important voice in the Senate. "A constitutional conservative and he's one of the only constitutional conservatives that speaks up in the U.S. Senate, so I think it's critical for Texas and the country."
Dr. Joshua Blank, research director at the Texas Politics Project at UT Austin, said Allred is a quality candidate, but says he still faces an uphill climb statewide. "I think this idea of unseating Cruz is still going to be a long shot because of all the factors that we consider, namely the fact that Republican voters tend to outnumber Democratic voters in the electorate."
The Cook Political Report announced Thursday that it moved the Texas Senate race from a "solid Republican" to "likely Republican," saying Allred is a quality candidate who's giving up a safe seat.
Blank said, "What it says to me is that Democratic candidates are at least looking at the 2024 election and seeing possibility instead of peril."
Democrats acknowledge it will be an uphill climb to unseat Cruz, who narrowly won re-election against Beto O'Rourke in 2018.
Republicans point to Cruz's popularity among grassroots conservatives in Texas.
The Democrats and Republicans say 2024 is a very different year than 2018, a midterm for then President Donald Trump.
A Democrat last won a statewide election in 1994.