During the only debate of the 2024 Texas Senate election, Senator Ted Cruz and Congressman Colin Allred clashed on various issues, making questionable charges against each other. Allred criticized Cruz for his opposition to abortion rights and defense of Texas laws limiting access to abortion. Cruz admitted to calling Texas’ abortion ban “perfectly reasonable” without exceptions for rape or incest. On the other hand, Cruz accused Allred of rejecting Texas’s law requiring parental notification for minors seeking abortions.
When it came to the economy, Cruz blamed Allred for inflation during the Biden-Harris administration, falsely claiming that illegal immigration was a driving force. Allred highlighted Cruz’s opposition to expanding the child tax credit and his efforts to lower the cost of insulin for diabetes care. Both candidates made claims regarding energy policies affecting inflation, with Cruz accusing Allred of contributing to inflation through his stance on energy and gas.
Border security and immigration were also contentious topics during the debate. Cruz accused Allred of voting against border security measures, while Allred criticized Cruz for not taking enough action during his time in the Senate to secure the border. The candidates traded barbs over LGBTQ rights, with Cruz claiming Allred supported biological males participating in women’s sports, which Allred denied.
Allred confronted Cruz over his behavior during the January 6 insurrection, pointing out Cruz’s objection to the certification of election results from Arizona and his actions during the riot. Cruz responded by highlighting Allred’s opposition to legislation aimed at preventing undocumented immigrants from voting.
Overall, the debate showcased the sharp divide between Cruz and Allred on key issues such as abortion, economy, border security, LGBTQ rights, and the January 6 insurrection. Both candidates made claims against each other, some of which were true, while others were misleading or false. The debate failed to produce a clear winner, leaving voters to make their decision based on the information presented.