HOUSTON — Two days before the March 5th primary, Rep. Colin Allred is sitting down with KHOU 11 News in an exclusive interview expressing why he believes he's the best person to go head to head with Sen. Ted Cruz in the general election.
"I think he's a threat to the state I know," said Rep. Colin Allred. "He's been one of the most divisive Senators in the country. He's spent his time in the Senate pitting us against each other. I've spent my time in Congress bringing us together."
To take on Cruz, the two-term Congressman will have to win Tuesday in a crowded Democratic primary. Polls show him with a double digit lead over State Senator Roland Gutierrez.
"I respect the primary process, when I ran in 2018 for Congress, came out of a big field and had a runoff and still unseated a 22 year incumbent Republican in November," said Allred. "I understand what that process is likes. I want to ask for everyone's vote in this round. I think folks are worried about individual freedoms that are going away. I think they're worried about the direction of our democracy and our country."
Abortion rights Allred said will mobilize voters at the polls. He's pledging to codify Roe v. Wade if given the chance in the Senate.
"What's happening in our state is a tragedy," said Allred. "It's a deeply personal and troubling and widely impacting issue."
But polling shows it's now the crisis at the border and immigration is the top issue for a majority of Americans.
"We have to have a secure border, but we have to do it in a humane way consistent with our values and that is possible," said Allred. "We have to act at the federal level, but to do that we need leaders who will act. Ted Cruz won't. I will."
Democrats eyeing Cruz's seat as a possible flip. Six years ago Beto O'Rourke came within three points of the historic win. Allred said if he's the Democratic candidate, it will be another tight battle.
"This is going to be one of the most important elections of our lifetime," said Allred. "You need to come out and make your voice heard. You don't have to have a Senator who you're embarrassed by, who doesn't care about you, who abandons us when 30 millions Texans are freezing in the dark to go to Cancun."
KHOU 11 News reached out to Senator Ted Cruz. He has not replied. Sen. Roland Gutierrez did respond and we'll have his story on KHOU 11 News at 10 p.m. on Monday night.