Texas Democrats Navigate Different Styles in Primary Battle for U.S. Senate Against Ted Cruz

Meet the top contenders in the crowded March 5 Democratic primary aiming to challenge Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.

As the March 5 Democratic primary approaches, three leading contenders are vying for the opportunity to challenge Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz in Texas. After Beto O’Rourke’s narrow 2018 defeat, Democrats sense an opportunity to turn the tide in a state that hasn’t sent a Democrat to the Senate in over three decades.

U.S. Rep. Colin Allred of Dallas positions himself as a consensus-builder, emphasizing his bipartisan approach to deliver results. State Sen. Roland Gutierrez of San Antonio opts for a confrontational style, putting Republicans on the spot amid GOP obstructionism. State Rep. Carl Sherman of DeSoto, a minister, focuses on moral leadership, seeking to rise above political bickering.

While Allred enjoys frontrunner status with prolific fundraising and leads in public polling, Gutierrez dismisses bipartisanship, favoring a more direct approach against the Republican Party’s tactics. Sherman, running an unconventional campaign rooted in moral leadership, emphasizes focusing on everyday Texans‘ problems.

The primary, where early voting begins on Feb. 20, will determine who challenges Cruz in November. Democrats aim to capitalize on changing sentiments in the state, and each candidate brings a unique style to the race.