AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana
Democratic vice presidential nominee and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz urged Texas Democrats to elect Rep. Collin Allred to the Senate, telling a group of donors in Dallas on Monday that a race against Sen. Ted Cruz is within reach.
“The Texas Senate election is winnable,” Walz said. “For the good of America, replace Ted.”
Walz made the remarks during a brief visit to the state for a fundraiser hosted by Vice President Kamala Harris’ Victory Fund. Texas, along with Florida, is one of Democrats’ biggest targets for flipping in the U.S. Senate. An Aug. 31 poll by the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas showed Cruz ahead of Allred by 8 percentage points.
Walz also touched on a number of issues affecting Texas, including the state’s abortion restrictions “that are creating a nightmare and a dangerous situation” and voting access laws that he said are deliberately designed to keep Democrats away from the polls.
“Voter suppression is much easier for them than voter outreach,” Walz said of Republicans.
Walz also touched on Tuesday’s first presidential debate between Harris and former President Donald Trump, saying Harris is likely to focus on economic issues.
“Tomorrow, Vice President Harris will have the opportunity to take to the debate stage and make the case for an economy that works for everyone,” Walz said.
Cruz campaign spokeswoman Macarena Martinez criticized Walz’s comments Monday afternoon.
“Tim Walz loves watching things burn, so it’s only natural that he would support Colin Allred and his campaign,” Martinez said in a statement.
The fundraiser, held at the Hall Arts Hotel Dallas, was sold out. It featured several of Texas’ top Democratic fundraisers, including Regina Montoya, a former Clinton administration official who serves as co-chair of the Harris Lawyers Committee. Lawyers Jill Lewis and Paul Coggins and former congressional candidate Sima Rajeverdian also helped organize the event. Some of the same organizers also hosted a fundraiser for President Joe Biden in Dallas in March, when he was still the party’s leading candidate.
The presidential campaign has been touring Texas to raise funds, but it’s not targeting the state as a chance to flip. The lack of attention has frustrated some lower-ranking Texas Democrats, who believe increased attention from higher ups could be the final push they need to push the state to the Democrats’ advantage in other elections.
Allred has so far maintained an independent stance in the presidential election and focused on working with lower-ranking candidates in the state.
Walz, who was in Dallas with his daughter Hope, was greeted upon arrival by San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg, LULAC Chairman Roman Palomares, Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilbero Hinojosa and Texas Democratic Party Executive Director Monique Alcala.
Nirenberg, whose term ends next year, has been traveling the country representing Harris’ campaign. He hasn’t disclosed his future plans, but said at this year’s Texas Tribune Festival that “it would be an honor to serve in the Harris administration” if asked.
Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs and engages Texans on public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.
