Morning Digest: Rep. Colin Allred launches bid to unseat 'all hat, no cattle' Ted Cruz

_{The Daily Kos Elections Morning Digest is compiled by David Nir, Jeff Singer, and Stephen Wolf, with additional contributions from Daniel Donner, David Jarman, Steve Singiser, James Lambert and David Beard.}

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Leading Off

● TX-Sen: Democratic Rep. Colin Allred announced Wednesday that he would challenge Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, a launch that gives his party a top-tier contender in a tough state. Allred, who played as a linebacker for the Tennessee Titans before becoming a civil rights lawyer, released a video that begins, "When I left the NFL, I thought my days of putting people on the ground were over. Then Jan. 6 happened." The congressman continues by saying that, while he "took off my jacket and got ready to take on anyone who came through that door," Cruz encouraged the rioters before hiding in a supply closet. "But that's Ted for you," says Allred, "all hat, no cattle."