Ted Cruz turns to oil and gas in fight to retain Senate seat

By Shelby Webb | 11/04/2024 06:16 AM EST

Texas’ signature industry keeps coming up as the state’s junior senator campaigns to hold onto his job in Washington.

Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Colin Allred participate in a U.S. Senate debate.

Texas Democratic Rep. Collin Allred during a debate with Republican Sen. Ted Cruz in October. Shelby Tauber/Texas Tribune via AP

The race to determine whether Republican Sen. Ted Cruz will continue representing Texas is tight, with oil and gas in the thick of the senator’s closing push against his Democratic challenger.

Rep. Colin Allred’s rising poll numbers are catching the attention of national observers because Texas has not elected a statewide Democrat since 1994.

Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for president, was in Houston late last month — though it remains to be seen if her visit will help Allred pull off an upset.

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As the Senate race nears the finish line, Cruz is working to link Allred to national Democrats, with particular attention on energy. High prices, Cruz said during a recent debate, “are the result of Congressman Allred and Kamala Harris’ war on Texas oil and gas.”

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