Ted Cruz and Colin Allred: A Debate on Transgender Policies

In the heat of the election season, Rep. Colin Allred (D-TX) is pushing back against Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) over ads that criticize his voting record on LGBT legislation. Cruz has been running ads suggesting that Allred supports legislation allowing transgender women, who are biologically male, to use women's restrooms and play in girls' sports. Allred, however, is not having it. He recently released a counter-ad, accusing Cruz of twisting his record to avoid talking about his own. Allred, a Christian and a dad, emphasizes that his faith teaches him to love all kids equally. He states clearly that he opposes biological boys playing in girls' sports, and he's not a fan of the "ridiculous stuff" Cruz is talking about. This response comes after Cruz's campaign had launched at least three ads targeting Allred's support for LGBT legislation, which Allred believes is a misrepresentation of his stance. It's worth noting that while some Texas voters might be wary of certain transgender proposals, like allowing transgender athletes in women’s sports or providing gender-affirming care to minors, a significant majority supports general LGBT protections against discrimination. This could potentially give Allred an edge due to his voting record. Despite Cruz's lead in the polls, the Texas Senate race is shaping up to be one of the more competitive ones, with Republicans hoping to capitalize on some voters’ unease with specific transgender policies.