U.S. Senate: Cruz v. Allred
Democrat Colin Allred, a congressman, civil rights attorney and former NFL linebacker, is challenging incumbent Republican Ted Cruz for his U.S. Senate seat this election cycle. The Enterprise submitted questions about issues of local interest. We received a statement from Rep. Allred but no responses to the questions, so we gathered information on pertinent issues from their campaign websites.
Rep. Allred said: “I’m a fourth-generation Texan, raised by a single mom who was a public school teacher in Dallas. It was because of teachers, coaches and the good folks at the YMCA who went above and beyond to help me chase my dreams that I earned a scholarship to play football at Baylor and made it to the NFL, before becoming a voting rights lawyer and serving in Congress. I know who we are as Texans, and it’s not who Ted Cruz says we are. Otherwise a story like mine would not be possible.
In the Senate, I will always fight for Texans’ freedoms including the freedom to vote, to get ahead if you work hard and play by the rules, to make your own health care decisions, and to retire with dignity with access to Social Security and Medicare. Texas can’t afford six more years of Ted Cruz, because he only cares about himself and hasn’t done the job.”
Sen. Cruz could not be reached for comment.
Health Care
Rep. Allred says he supports the Affordable Care Act and his health care priorities as lowering prescription drug costs; restoring and protecting women’s reproductive rights; expanding access to health care in rural communities where hospital closures have created a crisis of care; investing in addiction treatment services to help combat the opioid and fentanyl epidemic; holding big pharmaceutical and insurance companies accountable for price gouging and denials of treatment; increasing access to mental health services.
Sen. Cruz says he has been a leading voice for repealing “Obamacare” the Affordable Care Act. He authored legislation repealing Obamacare’s individual mandate and remains committed to a full repeal of Obamacare. He is also fighting to make meaningful reforms to expand Health Savings Accounts, allow individuals to purchase insurance across state lines, and make healthcare more personal, portable, and affordable.
Abortion
Rep. Allred says he “will always stand up for a woman’s right to make her own reproductive health care decisions. He strongly opposed the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision and supports legislation to make the protections under Roe v. Wade the law of the land. He also worked to expand access to affordable birth control and over-thecounter contraception to reduce teen pregnancy and give women more control over their future.”
Sen. Cruz says he received an A+ rating on the 2023 Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America National Pro-Life Scorecard and has consistently voted for legislation that supports life and against pro-choice legislation including the Women’s Health Protect Act of 2021. Sen. Cruz said he “applauded and supported the Supreme Court’s decision in the Dobbs case.” Rep. Allred says he supports small businesses and raising wages for workers. He is endorsed by both the U.S. Chamber and labor unions, like the AFL-CIO. He supports job apprenticeship programs through expanded use of the Pell Grant to help talented young people get trained in the skills they need to meet the needs of our economy. He strongly opposes cuts to Social Security and Medicare to ensure a secure retirement for every Texan.
Sen. Cruz says he is a strong advocate for progrowth policies and has introduced legislation “to eliminate job-killing regulations and cut through bureaucratic red tape” so Texas’ small business owners can create more job opportunities.
Education
Rep. Allred says he supports investing in school infrastructure as well as lowering the cost of child care and universal pre-K. He wants to expand access to community colleges and strengthen job training programs. He believes in reducing the cost of higher education, and supports efforts in the state legislature to raise teachers’ pay.
Sen. Cruz says he believes school choice is the civil rights issue of the 21st century, and has been a leading advocate for school choice - also known as vouchers – in the Senate.
Immigration
Rep. Allred says he supports comprehensive immigration reform that includes securing our borders, protecting Dreamers, and providing a pathway to earned citizenship for those who are working hard and obeying the law. He believes Congress must “do more to support our border communities who have been most affected by increased migration, and work with countries across Central and South America to address the root causes of economic instability and violence that fuel migration.”
Sen. Cruz believes that “our broken immigration system needs to be fixed by Congress and has long called to secure the Texas- Mexico border.” He has introduced legislation to build the wall on the southern border, support CBP and ICE agents working to protect Texas’ communities, keep immigrant families together, and handle asylum cases promptly.
Energy and the Environment
Rep. Allred says he supports responsible oil and gas production and helping Texas lead on renewable and clean energy, creating good-paying jobs for hard-working Texans and protecting the planet for future generations.
Sen. Cruz says he would maintain an “allof- the-above” approach that fueled the American energy renaissance we were experiencing before the pandemic and would fight to protect Texas’ oil and energy sector.