Ted Cruz often sticks to the usual Republican talking points when condemning Democratic opponent Colin Allred: He’s too radical, he wants to allow criminals to cross the border into the state, and he’s generally not conservative enough for a state as red as Texas. Cruz has also leaned heavily on the accusation that Allred is hiding from the media, dubbing him Can’t Comment Colin. Allred has fired back at Cruz for repeatedly declining to give specifics about his stance on abortion, a key issue for voters in a state where the procedure is illegal in most cases. But neither candidate will be able to hide while participating in a televised debate on October 15. Both have publicly expressed excitement about the spectacle—and for good reason. Polling averages show that Cruz only leads Allred by three percentage points. Things are bound to get heated.
Jason Whitely, the senior political reporter at WFAA, and Gromer Jeffers Jr., a political reporter at The Dallas Morning News, will moderate the event, featuring questions from voters across the state. The debate will be broadcast across all TEGNA stations in Texas and will be streamed on each station’s digital platform, too. It will start at 7 p.m.
Here are the questions Texas Monthly would like to see the candidates asked.
On Abortion
For Cruz: During the September debate against Vice President Kamala Harris, former President Donald Trump, whom you’ve endorsed for a second term, said that abortion rights are being decided at the state level. In 2021 you cointroduced a federal bill that, if passed, would have made it a crime to perform an abortion twenty weeks or more after fertilization. If elected, would you reintroduce similar legislation, or do you think abortion-related matters should be left to the states, as Trump said?
For Cruz: Texas is one of fourteen states with total abortion bans, with no exceptions for rape, incest, or severe fetal abnormalities. But shortly after Texas Republicans passed the state ban, in 2021, a Texas Politics Project survey found that 78 percent of Texas’s adults believed abortion should be allowed in some form, while only 15 percent said it should be never permitted. Would you be in favor of putting abortion rights on the ballot—in the form of a constitutional amendment via the Texas Legislature—and letting Texas’s voters decide on abortion rights?
For Allred: You’ve voiced support for legislation to ensure the national right to abortion. But a bill created for that purpose, the Women’s Health Protection Act, died in the Senate after every single Republican in the body said they opposed it. How do you plan to implement bipartisan legislation codifying abortion rights that could pass both chambers?
On the Border and Immigration
For Cruz and Allred: Border apprehensions this year peaked in March but have notably dropped since. Still, thousands of migrants flee their home countries each month for the U.S., often seeking refuge from violence and poverty. How would you address the root causes of migration?
For Allred: A bipartisan border bill failed to pass the Senate earlier this year after Trump came out against it. Several Republican senators—including Cruz—voted against the measure, which had been deliberated for months. Why do you think you can find success on this issue when longtime lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have historically been unable to do so?
For Allred: You have denounced Joe Biden’s “open-borders” policies. Which specific policies of Biden’s do you believe have opened the border? Which policies of Trump’s do you believe should be brought back?
For Cruz: You’ve touted your alleged ability to work across the aisle to get legislation passed. However, in February, you had an opportunity to vote for a bipartisan border package but ultimately did not, after Trump criticized it. You said it didn’t go far enough, and you favored a hard-line bill that didn’t have a chance of passing Congress because it had no Democratic support. Bipartisanship means making compromises. Why weren’t you able to get there on this bill, specifically, especially since the border and immigration are top of mind for Texas’s voters?
For Cruz: Trump has promised that, if elected, he would carry out the largest mass-deportation program in American history. If implemented, this plan could devastate families, cause mass inflation, and cripple the U.S. economy. Do you support Trump’s plan?
For Cruz: Much of Texas’s economy is built on undocumented labor—particularly in construction. If you’re in favor of deporting this workforce, what is your plan for ensuring there aren’t labor shortages in the state and prices for Texans don’t skyrocket?
On Climate and the Energy Transition
For Cruz and Allred: There’s growing evidence that Texas is getting hotter, drier, and more fire-prone. How should the feds be helping the state prepare for this new weather?
For Cruz: Texas is number one in solar and wind generation. By the end of the year, it’s expected to be number one in batteries, which provide extra power when conditions tighten and prices rise on the state’s electric grid. Whether in the Houston hydrogen hub or batteries and electric vehicles, the federal government has made large investments in clean energy that have benefited Texas. Why did you vote against the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), arguably the nation’s most important piece of climate change legislation, and similar bills even as Texas continues to lead the clean-energy transition?
For Allred: While running for Texas’s Thirty-Second Congressional District, in 2017, you touted how Texas was “in a position to lead the green-energy revolution.” But in this race, you’re trying to make inroads with those in the oil and gas industry. How do you balance your energy policy with the progressive wing of the Democratic Party—some members of which want to cease the use of fossil fuels—and moderates who depend on oil and gas for employment or other reasons?
For Allred: You said you would oppose a national ban on fracking, yet you were endorsed by the National Resources Defense Council, an antifracking group. You later scrubbed the endorsement from your website. What are your views on fracking, and how do you square them with your voting record in Congress, which has been more progressive on energy-related policies?
On Election Administration
For Cruz: You have refused to acknowledge that President Biden was legitimately elected in 2020. Win or lose, will you accept the outcome of the presidential race in November? Will you accept the outcome of your own race?
On Foreign Policy
For Cruz: Trump has signaled his support for across-the-board tariffs on goods coming into the country. Some Republicans, however, including Texas Senator John Cornyn, have suggested that this could trigger a rise in consumer prices, while economists have cautioned that some of the nation’s biggest trading partners could retaliate with tariffs of their own. Do you agree with Trump’s proposed surcharge on imports?
For Allred: You’ve reiterated your ironclad commitment to Israel, and you’ve also applauded the Biden administration for its “leadership” in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The Biden administration has recently urged ceasefire agreements between Israel and Hamas and between Israel and Hezbollah. Do you agree with the Biden administration that the conflicts should halt, or with Israel that the fighting must continue?
On Polarization
For Cruz: So far, Trump has insulted your wife and father, called you a liar, and questioned whether you were qualified to ever be president since you were born in Canada. You’ve continued to support him still. What, if anything, could Trump do that would cause you to stop backing him?
For Cruz: How do you balance your relationship with Trump—who is viewed unfavorably by 90 percent of Texas Democrats—with your attempts to court Democratic and independent voters?
For Allred: On what issues are the national Democratic Party and Harris too far left?
For Allred: Prior to the Democratic National Convention, in August, you largely ran your campaign independently of Democrats outside the state. Were you concerned that national Democrats, and the party’s presidential nominee, would drag you down in your own Senate race? And what convinced you to finally back Harris after being tight-lipped about whether she should replace Biden as the Democrats’ presidential nominee?
On Bipartisanship
For Cruz: You told Politico that you’ve been bipartisan since the day you entered office. However, the Common Ground Committee, a nonprofit organization that rates how effectively elected officials embody the spirit and practice of bipartisanship, gave you a score of 30 out of 100. Do you dispute this finding? How do voters reconcile it with your insistence that you’re bipartisan?
For Allred: You claim to be the most bipartisan option in this race, but an analysis by ProPublica shows that you vote against Democrats at a lower rate than Cruz votes against the GOP (6 percent versus 8 percent). Why should voters believe that, if elected, you would be willing to go against the will of your party?
For Allred: When citing evidence regarding your bipartisan bona fides, you’ve often mentioned past endorsements from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In this race, however, the group endorsed Cruz over you. Why do you think the chamber declined to back you this year after endorsing you for your 2020 and 2022 congressional bids? And how can you assure Texans that you’re pro-business?
On Time in Congress
For Cruz and Allred: It’s looking increasingly likely that Congress will be divided next year—with Democrats controlling one chamber and Republicans controlling the other. How do you plan to make a difference in the Senate if you’re part of the minority?
For Allred: As a member of Congress, you’ve only independently sponsored one bill that was signed into law. You’ve never served in an executive role. What experience has prepared you to be the senator of a state with a population of 30 million people?
On Transgender Americans
For Cruz: During the summer Olympics, you referred to Algerian boxer Imane Khelif (who later won the gold) as a man, even though she is a biological woman and there is no credible evidence proving otherwise. What, specifically, is your own definition of a “woman”?
For Cruz: You’ve criticized Allred for voting in opposition of House Resolution 734, which would have cut off federal funding for programs that allow athletes who were assigned male at birth to compete in women’s or girls’ sports. (The bill passed the House, with all Republicans present voting in favor, but died in the Senate.) This seems to be a big issue for you, as it’s highlighted in at least two of your campaign ads. Why is this such a strong focus of your campaign, given that Texans rarely list it as one of the most important issues facing the state?
For Allred: At the DNC, Democrats received flak for not talking enough about issues facing transgender Americans. You’ve said that you’re an advocate for the LGBTQ community, but what, specifically, would you do to protect transgender Americans?
