Ted Cruz is among the most high-profile Republicans within the U.S. Senate. He’s additionally probably the most weak — and he has a struggle on his arms in Texas.
Cruz is “preventing for his political survival,” mentioned The New York Occasions. His reelection race towards challenger Colin Allred, a Democratic congressman and former soccer star, is “more and more aggressive.” Polls present Cruz clinging to a slim, single-digit lead. That has some GOP officers “involved” that Cruz may lose the seat, mentioned the Occasions. In that case, Republicans may additionally lose the chance to reclaim the bulk within the Senate. “The present actuality is that Texas is simply too shut for consolation,” mentioned Matt Mackowiak, who leads the Travis County Republican Social gathering.
Democrats have “lengthy confronted hurdles within the Lone Star State,” mentioned The Hill. “For a Democrat to win statewide Texas, it is a large elevate. It is a heavy elevate,” mentioned a Democratic PAC chief. However Donald Trump gained the state by slightly below 6 factors in 2020. Democrats in Texas have been “nearer and nearer,” mentioned one strategist, and “fairly quickly nearer goes to be shut sufficient.”
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Cruz’s reelection bid is within the “‘secure guess’ class,” Jim Geraghty mentioned on the Nationwide Assessment. We have seen these sorts of challenges earlier than — when Jamie Harrison raised $130 million on the way in which to dropping to Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), when Amy McGrath raised $88 million to fall to Senate Republican Chief Mitch McConnell in Kentucky, and even when Beto O’Rourke turned a nationwide sensation whereas dropping to, sure, Ted Cruz in 2018. This seems to be like extra of the identical. “It would not actually matter in case your Democratic neighbor down the road thinks that Allred can beat Cruz,” mentioned Geraghty.
“May Donald Trump inadvertently assist Democrats win Ted Cruz’s seat?” Chris Tomlinson mentioned at The Houston Chronicle. No less than one ballot reveals Allred nearer to beating Cruz than O’Rourke was in 2018. And nationwide polling has recommended that Kamala Harris is benefitting from a surge of Democratic voter enthusiasm that might increase down-ballot candidates, even in Texas. “If Trump bombs and Harris soars,” Tomlinson mentioned, “Allred may win.”
What subsequent?
Allred’s marketing campaign is getting an enormous increase: The Democratic Senatorial Marketing campaign Committee introduced final week it’s “sending tens of millions to Texas” to assist his problem to Cruz, mentioned The Texas Tribune. Democrats have apprehensive about dropping management of the U.S. Senate on this election cycle — they’ve a number of “troublesome” seats to defend, together with that of Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.). Now they see a chance to flip expectations. “Senate Democrats are increasing the map and happening offense,” mentioned DSCC Chair Sen. Gary Peters.
Cruz has lengthy been generally known as a conservative firebrand — now he is attempting to “rebrand” himself as a bipartisan senator, mentioned Politico. “What’s new will not be that I am passing bipartisan laws that helps produce jobs in Texas,” Cruz mentioned. He has been touting his efforts to guard in-vitro fertilization, in addition to his participation in cross-party payments for hurricane reduction and commerce throughout the Rio Grande. There’s a good cause for him to stake his declare to a broader ideological id, Politico mentioned: “Even when he hasn’t modified, Texas has.”
