On Tuesday, October 15th, Senator Ted Cruz and Representative Colin Allred will face off in the first onstage debate between two Senate nominees. The Allred vs. Cruz debate will begin at 7pm CST and will kick off an already high-stakes race.
You don’t need cable or Texas channels to see one of the state’s most important debates! You can watch the debate live, for free, on Clapper. And since it’s a Livestream, you’ll get to share your thoughts and chat with other creators in real time! Keep reading to learn more about the debate, the candidates, and how to tune in on Clapper.
What to Expect
The upcoming Texas Senate debate will be held at the WFAA-TV studio in downtown Dallas. Jason Whitely from WFAA and Gromer Jeffers Jr. from The Dallas Morning News will moderate. There will be some typical debate rules in place, like time limits for responses and rebuttals. Unlike past presidential debates, microphones will only be muted if candidates exceed their time or break the format.
Questions to Consider
As the Allred vs. Cruz debate approaches, there are a few crucial questions we hope to get answers to. Here are some key issues and hot topics we anticipate the candidates discussing!
- Ted Cruz’s involvement in the January 6 election objection and insurrection.
- Cruz’s controversial trip to Cancun during Texas’ deadly 2021 winter storm. As Texans, we anticipate a few questions about the power grid and preparation for future storms.
- In the wake of the 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, TX, both candidates will likely face questions about gun control.
- Colin Allred is a relative newcomer to Texas politics, which may be brought up.
- Allred will face questions about his voting rights advocacy and moderate stance on issues like health care.
- Past criticisms of Cruz could also come up during Allred’s questioning.
- Immigration and border control have been hot topics in every debate and are practically inevitable in Texas.
Other topics voters want to hear about are abortion, climate change, and education. Read more potential questions in this Texas Monthly write-up!
Allred vs. Cruz
Ted Cruz
Senator Ted Cruz is a Republican, first elected in 2012. A Princeton University and Harvard Law School graduate, Cruz previously served as Texas Solicitor General but gained national attention during his 2016 presidential campaign. Throughout his career, he’s taken strong conservative positions on issues like limited government, free-market economics, and strict constitutionalism.
However, Cruz has begun emphasizing bipartisan achievements to increase his appeal. Despite his efforts, he remains a polarizing figure, and voters are unlikely to forget his trip to Cancun during a winter storm in 2021.
Colin Allred
Colin Allred is a Democratic U.S. Representative for Texas’ 32nd Congressional District, which includes parts of Dallas. Elected in 2018, Allred gained national attention by defeating Republican incumbent Pete Sessions in a traditionally conservative district. In Congress, Allred has focused on issues like voting rights, health care, and infrastructure.
Though Texas has not elected a Democrat into statewide office in over twenty years, Allred has steadily gained ground over the last year. Demographic shifts and his stance as a moderate Democrat have made the race for the US Senate a competitive one.
Watch on Clapper
We’ll go Live on @ClapperNewsroom at 7pm CST on Tuesday, October 15th to watch the debate. We won’t have any additional commentators, but you can spark up a conversation with other creators in the Livestream chat. Our chat will be open and welcoming to all creators and all viewpoints, so long as they’re respectful of other people and their beliefs. Drop in to share your thoughts or hear what other creators have to say!
We hope you’ll join us on October 15th for this historic debate!