Texas Senator Ted Cruz defeated Democratic challenger Congressman Colin Allred Tuesday. This was the second election in a row where Cruz had to fight to maintain his seat in the Senate. The 2018 challenge by Beto O’Rourke was very close, and the state’s Democrats hoped Allred would be able to do even better.
Taylor County voter Caleb Kelso says he was confident about making Cruz his candidate since watching his debate against Allred, and looks forward to him returning to Washington, “I would like to see him become a bigger voice when it comes to encouraging Texas, encouraging Governor Abbott to take further steps on ‘Hey what can we do to lock up that border further’. Again they’ve done a good job. I think they can do more, that’s an easy one. I think that’s the biggest thing, I’d love to see him continue to hype up is border efforts.”
Taylor County Democrats were disappointed that Congressman Colin Allred was unable to defeat Senator Ted Cruz.
Sammy Garcia, who organized a Democratic watch party at the Hilton Garden Inn, says he has voted for all blue candidates and believes that they share similar morals and values to his. He says his stance with the Democrats has grown stronger in recent years, “I’m a lifelong Democrat, but it’s different. It’s become more progressive. But, you know what? I’ve become more progressive. There’s still a lot of part of me that’s Conservative. But, I’ve learned more and I have progressed. My party seems to have grown that way and the Republican Party doesn’t. It seems to be wanting to not look at the way the demographics of our country are changing, the way young people think, and I admire young people. They keep us looking at things from a different perspective.”
Cruz won his race with a 54% vote compared to Allred’s 44%. The Senator’s next term will begin in January and will be up for reelection next in 2030.