Sunday marked 100 days until the November election, and Texas Democrats seized the date to announce a new initiative aimed at defeating U.S. Senator Ted Cruz. The initiative, known as the “Texas Offense,” is a push to support former NFL linebacker and attorney, Democratic U.S. Congressman Colin Allred, in his effort to unseat Cruz.
“On Nov. 5, I’m going to defeat Ted Cruz,” Allred promised the White Oak Music Hall crowd on Sunday. State Senator Carol Alvarado echoed this sentiment, telling the audience, “In 100 days, we can say adios to Cruz and send him on a one-way flight to Cancun.”
Despite the enthusiasm, polls indicate that Cruz, who has held his seat for the last 12 years, remains the frontrunner. Cruz’s campaign has about $2 million more in cash than Allred’s. However, Allred has been out-fundraising Cruz’s previous challenger, Beto O’Rourke. O’Rourke, whose campaign garnered significant national attention, came close to unseating Cruz, losing by only three percentage points.
“I’m very hopeful that we actually will (defeat Cruz). I think there’s a lot of excitement,” Susan Pollard from Moms Demand Action said. Gun safety was among the top issues driving Allred supporters to the rally, along with border policy and women’s reproductive rights.
Allred’s remarks were disrupted twice by protesters against the war in Gaza. Earlier this year, Allred split from the Texas Democratic Party by not joining their call for a ceasefire. Instead, he supported Israel in continuing the war while emphasizing their obligation to follow international law.
Speakers at the event aimed to capitalize on momentum from Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris’ nomination. In recent weeks, several Democrats have publicly expressed concern that President Biden’s low polling numbers could negatively impact competitive state races. Precinct One Commissioner Adrian Garcia referred to the county as “Kamala ‘Harris’ County,” a term that resonated throughout the afternoon.
Earlier in the week, Cruz told ABC13 that Allred “bears full responsibility for the disastrous policies of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.” He accused Allred of being “extremely liberal” and “radical.”
Data from Voteview, an academic entity that ranks members of Congress from left to right based on their voting behavior, ranks Allred as the 69th most liberal Democratic U.S. Representative out of more than 200. Cruz also criticized Allred for voting “100 percent with Nancy Pelosi” during his first four years in Congress.
As the November election approaches, both campaigns are gearing up for a heated battle, with Texas Democrats hoping their new initiative will sway voters and unseat Cruz after over a decade in the Senate.