WASHINGTON – Democrats backing Rep. Colin Allred’s bid to defeat Texas Sen. Ted Cruz are investing $5 million in an ad campaign focused on abortion, making a late-campaign play for what’s seen as a safely Republican seat.
The announcement by Senate Majority PAC comes as Democrats face a challenging set of races nationwide to maintain control of Congress' upper chamber. Several Democrats are running in states favored to go for Republican nominee Donald Trump next month.
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Texas has not elected a Democrat statewide since 1994. That streak has held even as several races over the years have drawn national attention — perhaps notably Cruz's last reelection fight against Rep. Beto O'Rourke, who became a sensation among liberals and raised huge amounts of money. Cruz beat O'Rourke by just over 2 percentage points.
Senate Majority PAC said its ad would focus on reproductive rights and highlight the U.S. Supreme Court's 2022 decision to strike down a nationally guaranteed right to abortion. Texas has since banned all abortions.
The ad will start running in major state media markets Friday — the same day that both parties' presidential nominees will visit the state.
Trump will sit for a taping with podcaster Joe Rogan and hold a press conference in Austin focused on immigration issues. Vice President Kamala Harris, meanwhile, goes to Houston for a large rally featuring Beyoncé, the star singer who grew up in the nation's fourth-largest city.