This cannot be happening.
As the 2024 U.S. Senate race heats up, speculation surrounding Senator Ted Cruz’s re-election campaign against Democratic challenger Colin Allred is intensifying. Pollster Ivan Moore recently suggested that Cruz, a prominent Texas Republican, is likely to face defeat in this tightly contested election. With control of the Senate at stake, Republicans are eager to reclaim a seat that could swing the balance of power.
Cruz is battling Allred, a three-term congressman from Dallas, in a race that has garnered significant national attention. Republicans are determined to capitalize on the current political climate after a disappointing outcome in 2022 when a predicted “red wave” failed to materialize. Currently, the Senate consists of 51 Democratic-aligned senators and 49 Republicans. However, GOP leaders are optimistic about picking up the West Virginia seat currently held by retiring Senator Joe Manchin, while Cruz’s position is considered one of the most precarious among incumbents.
In a recent post on social media, Moore indicated that while the presidential race in Texas might be close, Cruz’s chances of re-election appear dim. He emphasized that Allred has consistently polled ahead of Cruz, highlighting a troubling trend for the Republican senator, who previously won his seat by a narrow margin of less than 3 percent in 2018.
Polling data varies, with some surveys showing Cruz leading by small margins and others indicating a tighter race. An Emerson College poll places the candidates within just 1.5 points of each other, while a Cygnal survey gives Cruz a slight edge at 49 percent to Allred’s 45 percent. Even so, the shifting dynamics in Texas, traditionally a Republican stronghold, have raised concerns about Cruz’s electoral viability.
Adding to the pressure, Cruz received a notable setback when The Dallas Morning News endorsed Allred, calling for voters to consider the values and leadership styles of both candidates. The newspaper’s editorial criticized Cruz for fostering divisive politics and failing to find common ground on critical issues.
With the backdrop of a competitive presidential race, where former President Donald Trump appears to maintain a lead over Vice President Kamala Harris, Texas is becoming an increasingly complex battleground. Democrats are making inroads, with past elections revealing a trend toward closer margins. As Republicans rally to retain Cruz’s seat, the stakes are high, and all eyes will be on the Lone Star State as the election approaches. The outcome could very well shape the future of the Senate and influence the broader political landscape in the coming years.
