Allred’s sharp divergence from Beto O’Rourke’s more active campaign style has stirred dissent among some Democrats. His allies say it’s working.
Six years after Beto O’Rourke’s electrifying Senate campaign set the standard for Texas Democrats seeking statewide office, U.S. Rep. Colin Allred is taking a completely different approach in his own bid to oust U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.
Allred, a third-term Dallas congressman, has been far less visible on the campaign trail, opting for events with smaller and more curated audiences in the major cities and select suburbs, rather than the casual town hall-style rallies O’Rourke held in every corner of the state. And instead of O’Rourke’s unapologetic liberal stands which activated legions of young voters, Allred has adopted a more calibrated message aimed at winning over moderates. He’s running ads that portray him as “tough” on the border and willing to work across the aisle, while keeping his distance from his party’s standard-bearers, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
Allred’s sharp divergence from O’Rourke’s more active and freewheeling style has stirred dissent and even signs of panic among a segment of Texas Democratic activists who say Allred should be holding more rallies, small-dollar fundraisers and other publicly accessible events. The more buttoned-up approach, they argue, is unlikely to inspire the sort of grassroots energy that helped O’Rourke build a juggernaut volunteer turnout operation and come within three points of ending Texas Democrats’ statewide drought
You say for a change but Beto was the change this is a return to what it’s been for the past 40 years. In a state whose biggest problem is voter turnout this is going to backfire. I’ve lived in Texas a very long time, apathetic Democrats are the norm. Usually they’re beaten so badly people don’t even remember them. Beto was a deeply flawed candidate, but he came closer to beating Ted Cruz than anyone ever has. And despite his flaws he did better against Abbott then the rest of the democratic field. Which ain’t saying much but I think goes further to the point.
Alred’s sole and only hope is that enough people are driven to the polls by a presidential election to vote for him. But considering it’s Texas and most people don’t feel it’s in play anyway, including both the presidential candidates, I’m skeptical as to that working.