CNN projects Colin Allred as Democratic nominee against Ted Cruz in Texas Senate race

CNN projects that US Rep. Colin Allred will secure the Democratic nomination in Texas to challenge Republican Sen. Ted Cruz.

Allred emerged victorious in the Democratic primary on Tuesday, defeating state Sen. Roland Gutierrez and seven other candidates. By surpassing the 50% threshold, he successfully avoids a primary runoff in May.

Six years after Beto O'Rourke broke fundraising records in his close race against Cruz, Texas Democrats are making another attempt. Despite the excitement of the 2018 result, Democrats have struggled to make significant gains in Texas, the largest red state in the country, since their last statewide victory in 1994.

Republican Sen. John Cornyn easily won reelection in 2020, and GOP Gov. Greg Abbott also won by a good margin in the 2022 governor's race. Democrats in Texas have consistently lost in statewide contests by similar margins, except for holding two out of three competitive House seats in the Rio Grande Valley.

Looking ahead to the 2024 Senate map, Texas, along with Florida, could be where Democrats have a better chance of gaining ground. The party has to defend many seats in states that are likely to vote for Trump in the presidential race, such as Montana, Ohio, and West Virginia, as well as key battleground states like Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

Allred, a former NFL player, won his Dallas-area seat in a tough 2018 race by defeating a Republican incumbent. He has been a strong advocate for healthcare, supporting the Affordable Care Act and abortion rights.

In terms of fundraising, Allred has been very successful. In the fourth quarter of 2023, he raised $4.8 million, outpacing Cruz who raised $3.4 million. Allred ended the year with $10.1 million in his campaign account, compared to Cruz's $6.2 million.

Gutierrez, a well-known state lawmaker from San Antonio, is recognized for his support of gun restrictions following the elementary school shooting in Uvalde, which falls within his district. He ran as a more progressive option compared to Allred and was considered the main competitor among the nine Democratic candidates.

On the other hand, Cruz faced minimal competition from two lesser-known Republican primary challengers as he pursues a third term in office.

Editor's P/S:

The Democratic primary results in Texas are a significant development in the upcoming Senate race. Colin Allred's decisive victory and avoidance of a runoff indicate a strong momentum for Democrats in the state. His fundraising success and progressive stance on healthcare and abortion rights position him as a formidable challenger to the incumbent Republican, Ted Cruz.

Allred's victory also highlights the evolving political landscape in Texas, where Democrats are making gains despite the state's long-standing Republican dominance. The party's focus on competitive House seats in the Rio Grande Valley and the potential for a more favorable Senate map in 2024 suggest that Texas may become an increasingly important battleground in national elections. Allred's success serves as a beacon of hope for Democrats seeking to break the Republican stronghold in the Lone Star State.