DALLAS — Ted Cruz and Democratic challenger Colin Allred squared off in a fiery U.S. Senate debate on WFAA Tuesday night.
The debate comes as a new poll shows a tight race between Cruz and Allred, with Cruz leading Allred 50% to 46% in the latest survey by the Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston.
From the beginning of the debate, Allred and Cruz sought to portray the other as extremist and touted their bipartisan bona fides.
Both campaigns were quick to declare victory after the debate.
"Allred focused on how he’ll work with both parties to secure the border, lower costs for Texas families, and stand up for freedom, including access to abortion. Cruz again showed Texans he only cares about himself," Allred said in a statement.
"Sen. Cruz laid out his record, which has brought countless jobs to Texas, supported law enforcement, protected our children, and more. When Colin Allred wasn’t lying, he was dodging questions and throwing meaningless attacks. The winner of this debate is clear, and it’s who will win this election in 21 days. Spoiler alert — That person isn’t Allred," a Cruz campaign spokesperson said.
The two engaged in a heated debate over abortion rights in Texas. Texas has had a near-total ban on the procedure since Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022.
Cruz, opening on the issue of abortion, said Texans overwhelmingly support parents having to consent before their child can get an abortion and that abortions in the eighth and ninth month of pregnancy are too extreme, and that taxpayer money shouldn't pay for abortions.
Allred, though, repeatedly said that Cruz is "not pro-life" on the issue of abortion, as the two traded barbs on the opening question of the debate.
It was the back-and-forth over abortion rights that sparked the most reaction online.
Allred and Cruz also traded barbs over transgender rights, with Cruz accusing Allred of supporting men playing women's sports, which Allred denied.
Allred and Cruz also sparred over immigration.
Cruz accused Allred of not doing enough to secure the border and sought to tie Allred to Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris' record on the issue. Allred, meanwhile accused Cruz of not voting in favor of "the toughest border security bill in a generation" when it came up in Congress.
Some expressed frustration with both candidates.
Some elected officials across Texas also shared their support for Cruz and Allred
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and State Rep. Tony Tinderholt, R-Arlington, praised Cruz's debate performance.
Allred's fellow Congressmen Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, and Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, praised Allred's.
"@ColinAllredTX delivered a strong performance tonight. He's been a powerful champion for Texans in the House and he's the leader we need in the Senate," Castro wrote.
