Ted Cruz got testy with both Democrat opponent Colin Allred and the moderators of his debate Tuesday night.
Cruz and Allred, a sitting House member, met for their only debate Tuesday, trading attacks over abortion and immigration in a closely watched race that could help determine which party wins control of the Senate.
Nationally, Democrats view Texas as one of their few potential pickup chances in the Senate this year, while Cruz has urged Republicans to take Texas seriously amid signs that the former 2016 presidential contender is in another competitive race to keep his seat.
From start to finish in the hourlong debate, Cruz sought to link Allred to Vice President Kamala Harris at nearly every opportunity and painted the three-term Dallas congressman as out of step in a state where voters have not elected a Democrat to a statewide office in 30 years.
At one point, Cruz appeared to grow frustrated with how the debate moderators were treating him, begging for a minute and then 30 seconds more to respond to Allred’s attacks on energy policy.
Cruz later blasted Allred over his support of transgender rights and immigration polices of President Joe Biden and Harris, accusing him of shifting his views on border security from the positions he took when he was first elected to Congress in 2018.
‘Colin Allred is Kamala Harris,’ he said. ‘Their records are the same.’
Allred, who would become Texas’ first Black senator if elected, called Cruz ‘a threat to democracy’ and hammered him over the state’s abortion ban that is one of the most restrictive in the nation and does not allow exceptions in cases of rape or incest.
The issue is central to Allred’s underdog campaign and his supporters include Texas women who had serious pregnancy complications after the state’s ban took effect.
Pressed on whether he supports Texas’ law, Cruz said the specifics of abortion law have been and should be decided by the Texas Legislature.
‘I don´t serve in the state Legislature. I´m not the governor,’ he said.
