What you need to know
Republican incumbent Ted Cruz is seeking a third term as Texas' junior U.S. senator. Each state has two U.S. senators—Cruz currently serves alongside Republican Sen. John Cornyn.
Cruz is being challenged by Democrat Colin Allred, a third-term congressman from Dallas and former NFL linebacker; and Libertarian Ted Brown, a small-business owner and former chair of the Libertarian Party of Travis County.
More information
Learn more about the three candidates below. Seven other statewide races will be on Texans' ballots this November.
Eligible Texans have until Oct. 7 to register to vote. Early voting begins Oct. 21 and ends Nov. 1, and Election Day is Nov. 5.
Candidates were asked to keep responses within 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity.
For more election coverage from Community Impact, visit communityimpact.com/voter-guide.
Ted Cruz*
Experience:
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
Occupation:
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
If elected, what will your top three priorities be during your first 90 days in office?
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
Texas and the federal government frequently clash over how to secure the U.S.-Mexico border. What will you do to help mend this relationship?
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
Small businesses make up 99.8% of Texas businesses. What will you do to support small businesses and promote economic growth in Texas?
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
What action is needed to ensure Texas remains a national energy leader?
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
What steps will you take to help protect Texans from major storms and help communities rebuild after a disaster?
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
While in office, what will you do to work across the aisle and promote bipartisanship in the Senate?
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
Colin Allred
Experience:
Congressman, Texas’ 32nd Congressional District
Occupation:
U.S. representative
Candidate Website:
https://www.colinallred.com
If elected, what will your top three priorities be during your first 90 days in office?
I will fight to protect Texans’ freedoms including the freedom to make your own health care decisions; the freedom to get ahead if you work hard and play by the rules and retire with dignity; and the freedom to live in a safe community with a secure border.
Texas and the federal government frequently clash over how to secure the U.S.-Mexico border. What will you do to help mend this relationship?
Our immigration system is broken, and Texas is bearing the brunt. I'm fighting to secure our border and pass comprehensive reforms to fix our broken immigration system. I support bipartisan solutions that will secure our border, reform the asylum process and match our immigration system to our economic needs.
Small businesses make up 99.8% of Texas businesses. What will you do to support small businesses and promote economic growth in Texas?
Small businesses are the backbone of our local economies. I am committed to supporting our small businesses at the federal level, by cutting red tape, expanding job training programs and ensuring equal access to economic opportunity through early capital and the increased ability to participate in the government contracting process.
What action is needed to ensure Texas remains a national energy leader?
Texas is an energy state, and I support an all-of-the-above approach. I support responsible oil and gas production and will work to ensure that Texas leads the way on renewable energy and the good jobs it creates, like the 45,000 jobs I helped create with the Houston Hydrogen Hub.
What steps will you take to help protect Texans from major storms and help communities rebuild after a disaster?
Climate change is real, and we are already seeing its impacts in Texas. I proudly fought to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to invest in our infrastructure and resiliency. I will continue to fight for federal resources for storm recovery and commonsense, proactive measures to lessen damage from future storms.
While in office, what will you do to work across the aisle and promote bipartisanship in the Senate?
I was named the most bipartisan Texan in Congress, and I’m proud of that. I’ve championed job-creating bipartisan bills like the CHIPS and Science Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. I will always work with both parties to find real solutions for Texans.
Ted Brown
Experience:
Self-employed as independent insurance adjuster, lifelong Libertarian activist, former chair, Libertarian Party of Travis County
Occupation:
Small business owner
Candidate Website:
https://www.tedbrown.org
If elected, what will your top three priorities be during your first 90 days in office?
1. The $35 trillion national debt is unsustainable & causes inflation; massive budget cuts are needed across the board. 2. Decriminalize marijuana at the federal level. 3. Immigration reform that includes an Ellis-Island system that helps immigrants enter legally & recognizes that immigrants benefit this country and don't have high crime rates.
Texas and the federal government frequently clash over how to secure the U.S.-Mexico border. What will you do to help mend this relationship?
I'm opposed to [Gov. Greg] Abbott's Operation Lone Star, since immigration is a federal issue. A big help would be to stop the need for immigrants to cross into Texas border towns and instead be allowed to enter at official checkpoints anywhere in the country with border agents to check them in.
Small businesses make up 99.8% of Texas businesses. What will you do to support small businesses and promote economic growth in Texas?
I'm a strong supporter of small businesses who want to eliminate regulations, licensing and bureaucracy that stop them from getting started and succeeding. It should be easy to start a business. We also need lower taxes, free trade and the ability to hire the best people anywhere in the world.
What action is needed to ensure Texas remains a national energy leader?
We need a free market in energy without subsidies or overregulation. Texas has oil and gas, wind and solar, and we need them all. We need to allow more nuclear power plants, since this is the only energy that doesn't produce carbon emissions. Nuclear is safe but feared and misunderstood.
What steps will you take to help protect Texans from major storms and help communities rebuild after a disaster?
I don't think any officeholder is capable of protecting people from storms. After a disaster, though, it should be easy to rebuild without unnecessary regulation and bureaucratic interference.
While in office, what will you do to work across the aisle and promote bipartisanship in the Senate?
I'm a Libertarian so not part of "bipartisanship." As an independent voice, I'll work with both Democratic and Republican senators if we can agree on any issues. If a bill promotes liberty, I'll vote yes. If a bill promotes oppression and big government, I'll oppose it vigorously and vote no.
