State Senator Roland Gutierrez announces run for U.S. Senate, facing Senator Ted Cruz
SAN ANTONIO (CBSNewsTexas.com) – The race for U.S. Senate in Texas intensified Monday as State Senator Roland Gutierrez joined the Democratic primary to unseat two-term Republican Ted Cruz.
Gutierrez, whose district includes San Antonio and Uvalde, made the announcement in a video released before sunrise.
He entered the race two months after North Texas Congressman Colin Allred (D-Richardson) launched his bid for U.S. Senate.
In a one-on-one interview, Gutierrez told CBS News Texas why he's running.
"At the end of the day, Ted Cruz has been part of a problem in this state, in the United States, that has been nothing more than a cancer."
Gutierrez has become one of the strongest advocates in the Texas Legislature for increasing restrictions on gun sales.
Before he can challenge Cruz in a general election, Gutierrez must first win the primary and beat Allred, who launched his bid in early May.
Since then, Allred has raised more than $6 million and has $8.6 million in his campaign account.
"I'm also the candidate that's going to outwork either one of these two men," said Gutierrez. "I'm going get out and talk to people all across Texas, from the Panhandle to Brownsville, from El Paso to East Texas. We're going to have a real discussion about what ails us."
Gutierrez and Allred are not criticizing each other.
Allred's Campaign Manager Paige Hutchinson said in a statement, "Our campaign is laser-focused on beating Ted Cruz, and we are happy to welcome anyone who shares that mission into the race."
Since the massacre that killed 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde last year, Gutierrez has become the most outspoken legislator in Austin to fight for increased gun restrictions.
While none of his gun-related bills received a hearing in the Texas Senate, Gutierrez said his goals are the same if he heads to Washington.
"We're going to need common sense gun reform, raising the age limit on access to weapons like an AR-15, making sure we have extremist protective orders in national federal law, making sure that we close the gun show loophole," said Gutierrez.
In Dallas last month, Cruz told CBS News Texas what the basis is for his re-election.
"I think Texans want a secure southern border, strong law enforcement," said Cruz. "Jobs, freedom, and security are priorities of Texans and that's been my priority from day one."
In a statement Monday, the Cruz campaign said, "We welcome Senator Gutierrez to the race. Texans will now get to watch Colin Allred and Roland Gutierrez slug it out for who can be the most radical leftist in the state. Meanwhile, Senator Cruz will continue passionately defending Texas and delivering real results for 30 million Texans."
In response, Gutierrez said, "My only message to Ted Cruz today is get to work man, get to work and solve the real problems facing Texas."
In a poll by the Texas Hispanic Policy Foundation released in late May, Allred had 33%, Gutierrez had 22% and 41% were undecided in the Democratic primary.
The foundation also found Cruz led Allred 47% to 40%.
Political analysts have said it's an uphill climb for Democrats to win statewide in Texas.
State Representative Carl Sherman, Sr., D-DeSoto, told CBS News Texas that he is considering running for U.S. Senate as well.