The Cook Political Report has updated its assessment of the Texas Senate race, moving from “likely Republican” to “lean Republican,” signaling potential challenges for incumbent Senator Ted Cruz. This shift comes as signs of momentum build behind Democrat Colin Allred, a former Baylor football captain and Tennessee Titans player, who is now seen as an exceptionally strong candidate.
Recent private Republican polling indicates that Allred is closing in, now within a single-digit margin of victory against Cruz. Although Allred ended June with $10.5 million in campaign funds compared to Cruz’s $12.7 million, his fundraising pace is thought to have significantly outstripped that of Cruz’s campaign.
Cruz appears to be feeling the pressure, making an appearance on Newsmax to warn that “Chuck Schumer and George Soros are flooding cash into the state of Texas,” and he urged supporters to contribute to his campaign, saying they were “getting swamped.”
In a recent interview with Politico, Cruz made bold claims about his record on “passing bipartisan legislation,” a statement met with skepticism given his ranking of 89th out of 98 senators on the Lugar Center’s bipartisanship index for his staunch opposition to cross-party initiatives.
Cruz has consistently attacked Democrats, accusing them of wanting to “destroy the Constitution and this republic,” and has fervently supported Donald Trump’s false claims regarding the 2020 election. He has also avoided committing to recognizing the results of this year’s presidential election should Kamala Harris win.
Despite his claims, Cruz’s reputation among colleagues is fraught with controversy.
In fact, the only thing he seems to share across party lines is the bipartisan disdain he inspires. As former GOP House Speaker John Boehner famously remarked, “I have Democrat friends and Republican friends. I get along with almost everyone, but I have never worked with a more miserable son of a b—h in my life.”
While the race is far from over, the Cook Political Report notes that Democrats still face a challenging road ahead. The significant investment in Allred’s campaign will be crucial as they aim to convert this latest shift from “likely” to “lean” Republican into tangible electoral success.
