On October 15th, with less than 21 days until election day, Congressman Collin Allred and Senator Ted Cruz set foot in one of the most significant political debates of the season. This showdown felt more like a comedy sketch than a traditional debate, leaving the audience questioning whether they were watching C-SPAN or a new episode of Saturday Night Live. In case you missed it, here’s the recap:
The Abortion Argument
With the overturning of Roe v. Wade, abortion rights in our country have become the center of attention this upcoming election. Ted Cruz took a stance claiming to represent Texas’s “pro-life” majority. Cruz emphasizes abortions in the 8th and 9th months are extreme and argues that taxpayers shouldn’t be footing the bill for these procedures. Meanwhile, Allred responded with statistics. He pointed out the realities many Texas women face, stating, “26,000 Texas women have had to give birth to their rapist’s children.” Allred uses the following statement to emphasize the importance of reproductive care in Texas. Noting the “maternal mortality rate has skyrocketed by 56%” since the Supreme Court’s decision.
Next Up: Border Security
As they shifted into border security, Allred criticized Cruz for his lack of proactive measures, stating. “Ted Cruz said we don’t need a border bill,” Cruz responded with his voting record, a topic that will seem to be recurring throughout the night. Cruz asserted that “Colin Allred is Kamala Harris,” accusing him of supporting policies that have allegedly contributed to the border crisis and claiming that Texas is now paying the price for these decisions.
Moving on to the Economy
The candidates dove into a heated discussion about inflation and its impact on Texas families. Ted Cruz blamed the Biden administration, and by extension, Allred, for rising prices, claiming, “Inflation is caused by the policies of Kamala Harris and Congressman Allred.” Allred countered by reminding the audience of how the senator voted against the insulin price reduction bill, noting that it’s no surprise given Cruz’s campaign is heavily funded by big pharmaceutical companies.
The War on Transgender Rights
The debate inevitably veered into the controversial issue of transgender rights, where Cruz accused Allred of supporting radical policies. Cruz claimed that Allred “joined 100 radical Democrats in demanding that the military allow drag shows on military bases, pay for soldiers to have sex changes, and pay for children to be sterilized and have sex changes on military bases.” Allred quickly refuted these “distortions of his record,” reiterating his commitment to equality and fairness for all Texans.
The Broom Closet incident of January 6th
As the topic of January 6th came up, Cruz deflected whether or not he supported the pardoning of those responsible for the insurrection, flipping the tables on Allred. Cruz stated, “Allred is happy to talk about those who committed acts of violence on Jan. 6, but you don’t hear him talking about the Antifa and Black Lives Matter riots that burned cities across this country,” referring to the protests following the murder of George Floyd. Allred, however, emphasized the importance of accountability. Allred shared a heartfelt conversation he had with his wife before preparing to defend his fellow members of Congress on January 6th, joking that Ted Cruz was hiding in a broom closet.
Foreign Policy and Support for Israel
When it came to foreign policy, particularly the ongoing conflict in the Middle East between Israel and Palestine, Cruz took a firm pro-Israel stance, accusing Allred of associating with anti-Semites. He mentioned that some of Allred’s biggest supporters were those who “founded anti-Semitic protests on college campuses.” Allred countered by reaffirming his support for Israel and emphasized the need for a humane approach to avoid unnecessary civilian suffering.
Housing Prices: Blame It on the Border?
The candidate then turned their attention to affordable housing, a pressing issue for many Texans. Allred emphasized his commitment to the housing crisis by highlighting the need for investments in new housing initiatives and affordable housing options to support struggling families. Cruz countered this by stating that “nothing is driving up housing prices as powerfully as the 1 ½ million illegal immigrants that Allred and Harris have let in with our open borders.” He positioned himself as the champion of jobs and economic stability, stating that his track record demonstrates a commitment to lowering housing costs.
Final Thoughts
Allred’s final thoughts:
“Listen, we’re all Texans. My idol, John Lewis, used to say that we might have come here on different ships, that we’re in the same boat now. We’re all Americans and we’re all Texans… When the lights went out, when 30 million Texans were relying on a senator to spring into action, he went to Cancun. That’s who he is. If you give me the chance to be your United States senator, I’ll never abandon you. And I’m asking for your vote and for your support in this election.”
Cruz’s final thoughts: “That means if Congressman Allred is elected, we will see the Democrats number one strike down every voter integrity law in the country. Number two, add DC and Puerto Rico as states to give them four New Democrat senators; number three, grant immediate voting rights to every illegal alien in America that would turn Texas blue. And every statewide elected official in Texas would be defeated in the next election. And number four is the U.S. Supreme Court. That would jeopardize our fundamental rights.”
My closing remarks
So who won the debate? In the end, the true winner of the debate is left to be determined on Election day, when voters turn to the polls to express their opinions. As this recap comes to a close, I would like to leave you all with one final remark: Make a plan to vote. In the state of Texas, early voting will take place from October 21st to November 1st, with election day being on November 5th. For any questions regarding polling locations, voter registration status, or voter ID, please see votetexas.gov
