A political analysis organization called Inside Elections rates the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Ted Cruz in Texas as the only Republican-occupied seat that is a “battleground” heading into next year’s elections.
This same site rates a significantly larger number of Democratic Party-held seats in such a way, as the Democrats will be defending seats across a series of swing states, from Pennsylvania to Wisconsin and beyond.
Some on the list of Democratic seats more in jeopardy than not are probably starting out with Dem chances higher than the others. Dems in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin have been on somewhat of a streak recently in statewide elections, sweeping all three states in the 2020 presidential race and winning the race for governor in each of those states last year, helping establish the needed control for what’s since been a widespread enactment of key items on the Democratic agenda. Michigan, for instance, has implemented universal background checks and red flag laws, which allow for temporary restrictions on firearms access for potentially dangerous individuals.
Cruz already has a prominent challenger, though this contender — Rep. Colin Allred (Texas) — technically still needs to formally win the nomination from Democrats. Allred has kickstarted his campaign with directly confronting Cruz and presenting an alternative vision of actually constructive action on issues like gun violence.
“I know how so many parents are feeling right now,” Allred said on the House floor. “The fear that the next time, it will be your family in the wrong place at the wrong time. But I also don’t believe that it has to be this way. I know it doesn’t have to be this way. We don’t have to live like this. Our public places don’t have to become memorials… I am so sick and tired of hearing some politicians talk about what we ‘can’t’ do or saying that just raising the topic is dividing us.”
He’s also seen progress with fundraising. Within just days of announcing his campaign, Allred raised more than Cruz reported raising in the entire first three months of this year, though there’s of course still time for the Texas Republican to turn around his fundraising pace.
