Colin Allred, Ted Cruz blast each other as “extreme,” throw jabs on border and abortion in Senate debate

The debate proved combative from start to finish, with Cruz and Allred trading barbs on nearly every issue that came up. By Jasper Scherer and Renzo Downey U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, left, and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, take part in a debate for the U.S. Senate hosted by WFAA on Oct. 15, 2024, in Dallas Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune via POOL DALLAS — U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and his Democratic challenger, U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, sparred Tuesday over immigration, abortion and transgender rights in a feisty debate that is expected to be the only onstage face-off between the two candidates ahead of the Nov. 5 election. Throughout the one-hour debate, Cruz cast Allred as “radical and extreme,” repeatedly urging the audience to consider Allred’s voting record over his efforts to portray himself as a moderate. He sought to tie Allred to Vice President Kamala Harris, alleging the two “voted in favor of open borders over and over” and were both responsible for fueling a surge in inflation under the Biden administration. “We’re doing an awful lot right in the state of Texas,” Cruz opened the debate. “Colin Allred wants to change that. I want to...