While U.S. Senator Ted Cruz is expected to win re-election this fall, Texas Democrats are nevertheless holding their own primary to determine a nominee.
Democrat U.S. Rep. Colin Allred (Dallas) and State Sen. Roland Gutierrez (D-San Antonio) are the leading contenders.
While the contest had previously been expected to divide along regional lines (Dallas/North Texas vs. San Antonio/South Texas), recent comments by Gutierrez may polarize the contest along far more ominous lines.
According to a national media report, Gutierriez recently told a Houston audience “it’s going to be a Hispanic candidate, a strong Hispanic candidate” to flip the seat blue.
“Work, a hard work ethic,” Gutierrez continued, “and, yes, some identity politics. You need to motive Hispanic people to go vote. Why else do you think that Cruz—I mean, yeah, they’ll go vote for the president, and he steals a vote, he steals a percentage point, because his last name is Cruz.”
Summing up his brief against his opponent, Gutierrez contended, “Allred’s message sucks.”
Gutierrez’s full comments can be heard below (relevant section begins at 4:36).
The general election will be held November 5, 2024. No Democrat has won a statewide election in Texas since 1994.
