WASHINGTON — Rep. Colin Allred, a Texas Democrat from Dallas, aims to achieve what no other Texas Democrat has in three decades: winning a statewide race. He intends to focus on the events of Jan. 6, 2021 in Washington to stay in the public eye. Allred is trying to draw a sharp contrast to his actions to that of Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who is seeking a third term in the U.S. Senate.
When Allred first announced his bid for Senate last year, he recalled the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. Lawmakers were inside the building to certify the results of the 2020 election. Allred was on the floor of the U.S. House Chamber when a mob overcame Capitol Police and entered the building.
“I texted my wife, whatever happens. I love you. Then I took off my jacket and got ready to take on anyone who came through that door and Ted Cruz, he cheered on the mob,” Allred said in the announcement video.
Allred and Democrats argue Republicans indulging in unverified claims of election interference fueled the riots.
Cruz objected to Arizona’s electoral votes for Joe Biden. Cruz said he was pushing for an electoral commission that would conduct a 10-day audit of the elections. He argued Democrats should welcome the review.
“For those who respect the voters, simply telling the voters, Go jump in a lake, the fact that you have deep concerns is of no moment to us, that jeopardizes, I believe, the legitimacy of this and subsequent elections,” Cruz said on Jan. 6.
The riot triggered a House select committee investigation. One of the two Republicans on the committee, former Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyoming, has since condemned former President Donald Trump for his actions that day. Cheney endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for President and Allred for Senate.
“Help us right the ship of our democracy so that history will say of us when our time of testing came, we did our duty, and we prevailed because we loved our country more,” Cheney said at a rally in Ripon, Wisconsin, early this month.
Jan. 6 came up again during the first and only Senate debate this month, when a question was asked about the prosecution of rioters.
“You can’t be for the mob on Jan. 6, and for the officers, you can’t and it’s not funny, because you’re a threat to democracy,” Allred to Cruz at the debate.
Trump said he would pardon Jan. 6 rioters if elected president. Meanwhile, Cruz said those who engaged in violence should not be pardoned and that the Justice Department was acting too heavy-handed.
“Congressman Allred is happy to talk about those who committed acts of violence on Jan. 6, but you don’t hear him talking about the Antifa and Black Lives Matter riots,” Cruz said referring to the protests that followed a Minnesota police officer’s killing of George Floyd.
As both candidates try to claim the mantle of bipartisanship, some political analysts say by focusing on Jan. 6, Allred is trying to sway more moderate Republicans and independents.
“The role of the Jan. 6 events and of, you know, calling into question whether elections are held fairly or not, are not going to be the deciding factor for many voters, but they’re going to be part of the mix that a lot of voters use in trying to make their voting decisions,” said James Riddleperger, a professor of political science at Texas Christian University.
Polls have largely shown that Cruz will win, but Allred has consistently remained within the margin of error.