What They Are Saying: Colin Allred Won Debate, Ted Cruz Lied (A Lot)
DALLAS – The results are in: Colin Allred won the Texas Senate debate on Tuesday night.
Here’s what top papers across Texas are saying about the performance:
Dallas Morning News: [Allred] took some of his hardest swings yet during the debate, saying the senator was lying about Allred’s record, just as he lied about fraud in the 2020 election. “You’ve been seeing him lie to you for 12 years,” said Allred, who also repeatedly mentioned Cruz’s trip to Mexico during the 2021 winter storm.
The Texas Tribune: After the debate, Glen Whitley, a Republican and former Tarrant County judge who recently announced his support for Allred, said Cruz’s approach to the 2020 election was part of why he is supporting the Democratic nominee… “It’s a heck of a thing when you see the Democrat winning the discussion on the border over a Republican,” Whitley said.
El Paso Times: After briefly introducing himself to the viewing audience across Texas, Allred immediately chided Cruz for his infamous jaunt to Cancun in 2021 as Texas faced its worst energy crisis in history and millions were left without electricity, water or food. “We don’t have to be embarrassed by our senator,” he said. “We can get a new one.”
Dallas Morning News: The first question probed the candidates’ thoughts on abortion, specifically whether Cruz supports exceptions for rape and incest. Cruz avoided addressing his position on those specific exceptions…
The Houston Chronicle: Allred, an attorney and former NFL linebacker, remained composed through a series of attacks from the former state solicitor general and seasoned debater…
Chron.com: “U.S. Rep. Colin Allred came out swinging in Tuesday night’s debate against his opponent in the U.S. Senate race, incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz, calling Cruz a “liar” in the first and only debate of the race.”
Community Impact: Allred called himself “the most bipartisan Texan in Congress” and said his opponent was “only focused on himself.”
Jeremy Wallace of the Houston Chronicle: Allred has one of his sharpest responses to Cruz on abortion: ‘You’re not pro-life. It’s not pro-life to deny women care so long that they can’t have children anymore. It’s not pro-life to force a victim of rape to carry their rapist’s baby.’ Later he tells women watching from home: “Understand when Sen. Cruz says he’s pro-life, he doesn’t mean yours.”
Rolling Stone: Ted Cruz Refuses to Say If He Supports Abortion Exceptions: “Why Do You Keep Asking?”