WASHINGTON — In an effort to turn Texas blue, Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, has a style much different from the last Democrat who took on Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.

While former Rep. Beto O’Rourke hosted big town halls and built a progressive coalition, Allred’s campaign events have a narrower focus and he has reached out beyond the Democratic base.

Olivia Julianna said growing up in a conservative household in Houston, her family supported Republicans. She said her father voted for Cruz in the past, but he does not plan to this year.

“My dad is now knocking doors for Colin Allred, and he’s a lifelong Republican, and this is just one of so many stories that I’ve heard of people who are sick and tired of the Republican Party,” Julianna said.

That is exactly what Allred’s campaign wants to hear. In his bid to unseat Cruz, Allred actively courts independents and moderates, including Republicans. Allred’s campaign ads focus on border security and health care. He also touts an endorsement from former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney.

“Barnstorming doesn’t guarantee a win, as O’Rourke, shows, but policy can be an area of improvement, and I think Allred has tried to identify those two issues that people might feel uncertain about with Ted Cruz and maybe gain some support against people who, you know, might want to give somebody else another shot,” said Matthew Eshbaugh-Soha, professor of political science at the University of North Texas.

Allred’s strategy is distinct from former Senate candidate O’Rourke, who narrowly lost to Cruz during the midterm election in 2018. The El Paso Democrat made it a point to hit up all 254 counties of Texas and hold huge rallies. Allred’s campaign events are with a more targeted crowd in the urban and suburban areas of the Lone Star State.

“O’Rourke did wonders by getting as close as he did in 2018 with that grassroots campaign, but that’s also a reflection of his personality. That’s who he was as a candidate. Colin Allred is not that guy, and so trying to travel across the state of Texas, also knowing that it wasn’t successful, ultimately, for Beto O’Rourke, I think Allred and all good candidates for office are going to focus on their strengths, and I think his strength is a targeted, repeated message. A lot of this is in the major metropolitan areas through television advertising,” Eshbaugh-Soha said.

Cruz’s campaign dubbed Allred as “Can’t comment Colin” saying Allred is “hiding in the basement.” Allred’s campaign promotes how in just over a month, he has made 50 campaign stops in 22 cities across the Lone Star State.

Julianna emceed Allred’s campaign event in North Texas last month with women affected by the Texas’ abortion restrictions. She said she believes Allred is being as “efficient as possible” with his voter outreach, given the size of the state and the diversity of voters.

“Why these very issue-focused rallies with these very specific individuals seem to be working, and why it seems to be motivating people is because people can really find the event that they connect with the most, and they can hear more about the policy and issue that affects them the most and that they care the most about. And I think the Women for Allred event in Dallas is a really great example of that.”

A Democrat has not won statewide in Texas in more than 30 years. Recent polls show that Allred is within striking distance of Cruz.