Democratic primary challengers eye likely meeting with Cruz in US Senate race
The March 5 primary will feature 12 candidates — nine Democrats and three Republicans — looking for their party’s nomination.
AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Senator Ted Cruz’s seat is up for grabs, and a wide range of candidates are aiming to take it in November.
The March 5 primary will feature 12 candidates — nine Democrats and three Republicans — looking for their party’s nomination.
Cruz is seeking a third term and leads in the polls by a wide margin.
“What we're doing in Texas works,” Cruz told Nexstar. “Every day, I'm fighting for more jobs for Texans, for higher wages, for better opportunity. I'm fighting for freedom to protect your constitutional rights.”
The incumbent bases his platform on Texas' economy and job growth. In a February interview with Nexstar, he criticized President Joe Biden’s lack of control of the southern border and said he's “led the way” in working to stop violent crime.
In the Senate, Cruz currently serves as the Ranking Member on the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. He also sits on the Foreign Relations Committee, Judiciary Committee, and Rules Committee.
R.E. Lopez is one of the candidates challenging Cruz. The 82-year-old attorney from San Antonio also ran for Texas Land Commissioner in 2022.
Holland “Redd” Gibson is the third challenger in the Republican primary.
Nine Democratic challengers are on the primary ballot. Polling has Texas State Rep. Colin Allred and State Sen. Roland Gutierrez leading the crowded field.
Allred boasts his ability to work across the aisle. “I’m proud that I’ve been the most bipartisan member of the Texas delegation, and I want to be a senator now for this state that’s given me so much,” Allred said in an interview with Nexstar.
Allred was one of just three Texas democrats to condemn President Biden for his “open-border policies.” He voted for the Safer Communities Act, which enhanced background checks for purchasing firearms and provided funding for mental health programs in schools. Allred said that his experience from defeating an incumbent in 2018 will propel him toward defeating Cruz.
According to his campaign website, Gutierrez prides himself in progressive values. He’s repeatedly criticized Allred for his bipartisan efforts.
“We don’t need to have Democrats throwing our president under the bus,” Gutierrez said at the Texas AFL-CIO Democratic debate. “We don’t need to adopt Trump and Cruz’s causes. We don’t need to build walls. We need comprehensive immigration reform.”
From Uvalde, the state senator strongly supports an assault weapons ban and red flag laws. Additionally, Gutierrez calls for medicare for all, expanding the Supreme Court and abolishing the filibuster.
Behind Allred and Gutierrez sits state Rep. Carl Sherman. A pastor from Dallas, aims to be a “unifying voice” in the Senate. Sherman’s platform focuses on abortion rights, reducing gun violence and funding public schools. During the AFL-CIO debate, Sherman’s closing remarks were “I don’t like politics, but I love people. I love the Lord, and I love policy.”
Six more candidates will be featured on the ballot: A. "Robert" Hassan, Steven J. Keough, Heli Rodriguez Prilliman, Meri Gomez, Thierry Tchenko and Mark Gonzalez. They are all polling at or below 2%.
Texas holds an open primary, allowing voters to choose which party primary to vote in. The runoff election will be held May 28 if no candidate wins a majority. The general election will be held on Nov. 5.