Sign up for The Brief, The Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and his Democratic challenger, U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, have agreed to a televised debate next month in Dallas, marking the first onstage faceoff between the two Senate nominees.
The debate is scheduled to take place on October 15 at 7 p.m. at WFAA-TV’s studio in downtown Dallas. It will be moderated by political reporters Jason Whitely of WFAA and Gromer Jeffers, Jr., of The Dallas Morning News, and will air on broadcast and digital platforms around the state, according to WFAA.
Cruz, a Texas Republican seeking his third term in the upper chamber, has led Allred by single digits in several recent statewide polls. National Democrats see Texas as one of their best pickup opportunities, though they are more focused on defending their incumbents in other states.
Cruz is no stranger to high-stakes political debates. He twice debated his previous Democratic challenger, Beto O’Rourke, and participated in a dozen debates during his run for the GOP presidential nomination in 2016.
Allred, D-Dallas, has also participated in a number of debates, going toe to toe multiple times with GOP U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions in 2018, when Allred ousted the longtime incumbent. Allred also took part in a three-way debate in the Senate Democratic primary earlier this year.
### U.S. Senate Debate: Ted Cruz vs. Colin Allred
The Texas Senate race is heating up as incumbent U.S. Senator Ted Cruz and his Democratic challenger, U.S. Representative Colin Allred, gear up for their first televised debate next month in Dallas.
The debate is set to take place on October 15 at 7 p.m. at WFAA-TV’s studio in downtown Dallas. Moderated by political reporters Jason Whitely of WFAA and Gromer Jeffers, Jr., of The Dallas Morning News, the event will be broadcast on various platforms across the state.
Cruz, a Texas Republican seeking his third term, has maintained a slight lead over Allred in recent polls. With Democrats eyeing Texas as a potential pickup opportunity, the race is gaining national attention.
Both candidates are no strangers to debates, with Cruz having faced off against Beto O’Rourke in previous elections and Allred engaging in multiple debates during his successful campaign against GOP incumbent Pete Sessions in 2018.
Don’t miss this highly anticipated showdown between Cruz and Allred as they vie for the U.S. Senate seat in Texas. Stay informed by signing up for [The Brief](https://www.texastribune.org/newsletters/the-brief/?utm_medium=website&utm_source=trib-ads-owned&utm_campaign=trib-marketing&utm_term=inline-CTA-brief), The Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter covering essential news from the Lone Star State.
