ICYMI: Since Launch Allred’s Senate Campaign has Made History and Upgraded Chances of Retiring Ted Cruz

DALLAS – Last Wednesday, Congressman Colin Allred announced his U.S. Senate campaign to defeat Ted Cruz and has quickly gotten to work on building the coalition needed to flip this seat and deliver real leadership for the people of Texas.

Allred’s campaign raised over $2 million in just 36 hours and surpassed the launch day fundraising record of $1.6 million for Senate campaigns this cycle. Notably, he raised more in 24 hours than Ted Cruz raised in the first three months of this year.

Experts are taking notice, with the Cook Political Report and Inside Elections both upgrading Democrats chances of winning this seat due to Allred’s entry into the race, and many other analysts now considering Texas to be competitive with Allred’s decision to run. 

• Cook Political Report: “Allred’s entrance does spur us to move this race into the Likely Republican category.” 
• Inside Elections upgraded the race upon Allred’s entry saying: “In many ways, Allred has the ideal profile for a Texas Democrat running statewide” and “Democrats have found a solid contender in an emerging competitive state. Inside Elections is moving this race from Solid Republican to Battleground.”
• Roll Call: “With Allred in the race, Texas should be considered competitive now…”
• NBC News says “Allred has experience running in tough campaigns and staying on message, something other statewide Democrats in the state have historically struggled with during their bids.” 

Leaders across Texas are lauding Allred’s candidacy as well, here’s what they told the Texas Tribune in the story “Democrat Colin Allred’s calm contrasts with Ted Cruz’s combativeness in 2024 race”: 

• Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) said: “Colin was always a voice of reason, a voice of commonsense solutions, but also someone whose input was always very strategic and thoughtful.”

• Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) said: “Knowing how to work with everyone, knowing how to listen to people, how to engage, how to come up with solutions, and really, how to bring people together — that’s what leadership is. And frankly, that’s the leadership we need in our state right now.”

• Congressman Marc Veasey (TX-33) said: “He’s been just someone that has been really good and gives a lot of really good insight on different pieces of legislation, particularly around the committees that he serves on … before they go to the negotiating table with the Republicans to be able to hammer some agreements.”

Local nonprofit leader Byron Sanders said: “[Allred]’s held and maintains respect across the board, whether you’re talking about law enforcement or community activists. It’s kind of hard to give both of those camps the impression that you’re willing to hear them out.”