TEXAS — Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., believes progressive turnout on Election Day will result in wins for Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris and Rep. Colin Allred in his bid to unseat Republican Sen. Ted Cruz.

“Colin being in the Senate will give us the opportunity to begin to do good things for working people that we otherwise would not have if Republicans controlled it,” Sanders said. 

What You Need To Know

  • Some of the most progressive Democrats in the party are rallying for Rep. Colin Allred and Vice President Kamala Harris in Texas

  • Among them is Sen. Bernie Sandes, I-Vt., Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York, Rep. Greg Casard, D-Texas, and former congressman and Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke 

  • Democrats say Allred's bipartisanship will play well with young voters 

  • Cruz's backers say Texas' junior senator always puts Texans first 

Sanders spoke with Spectrum News ahead of a series of rallies he’s hosting along I-35.

“If we can carry Texas, I think in some way the election is over,” he said.

Texas State University student Analysa Torres was the first in line to hear from Sanders and other progressive Democrats from across the country. 

“I personally feel like there's such a divide in both parties, and I want to listen to both,” Torres said.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York, Austin-area Rep. Greg Casar and former congressman and Senate candidate Beto O’Rourke joined Sanders to convince voters of all parties to oust Cruz.

“Congressman Allred's honesty and integrity, more than anything else, is something that unites not just Democrats but Republicans and independents,” Casar said. 

In contrast, Republicans say Cruz always put Texans first 

“He's really been all across the state talking to voters about what issues they really face every day,” said Hannah Beth Jones, vice president of the Texas Young Republicans Federation.

Allred has adopted a different campaign strategy from Cruz's 2018 opponent, Beto O’Rourke, which means fewer college appearances. But even so, O’Rourke, who lost to Cruz last time, thinks Texans will support Allred.

“Texans are going to choose someone who works with everyone, regardless of party, serves all Texans, regardless of any of our differences, and that person is Colin Allred,” said O’Rourke.

Young Texans for Allred say Allred’s bipartisanship will play well with young voters.

“I think that what young people are going to be super excited about is a senator that's actually going to do the things that he says and not just go jet off to Cancun whenever we need him and within the middle in a winter storm,” said Joshua Martin, co-chair of Young Texans for Allred.

Young Republicans voters say Allred’s bipartisanship strategy is a political ploy.

“The benefit of this is that Colin Allred's already been elected, we can see what he's done. And so when we look at that, we know he's voted with Nancy Pelosi 100% of the time. He's not middle-of-the-road,” said Jones.

A campaign spokesperson for the Cruz campaign said, “Young people in Texas want to be able to buy a home one day. They want to go to the grocery store without the fear of having to check their account balance in the checkout line. They want to get ahead, and many aren't happy with the hand they've been dealt the past several years under the leadership of Democrats. Senator Cruz has fought tirelessly during his time in the Senate for economic freedom and sound fiscal policies. Senator Cruz wants to build a future that young people don't have to fear.”

Many people in both parties believe young voters will be the difference-makers this November. The deadline to register to vote in Texas is next Monday.