Colin Allred in 2024 TX Senate race

On Energy & Oil: Be aggressive on carbon recapture, but tell people the truth

On Families & Children: Was the first member of Congress to take paternity leave

On Foreign Policy: Biden did a good job in uniting free world against Russia

On Free Trade: Helping African nations makes them stable trading partners

On Gun Control: For raising age to buy semi-automatic file to 21

On Immigration: Process people at the border faster, system is broken

On Principles & Values: Grew up with US as leader of the free world, and we are

On Energy & Oil: Incentives instead of punishment to lower carbon emissions

"We have to recognize that we're going to continue to be an energy state, but that energy mix is already incredibly diverse," Allred said. "But also, I am very concerned about the climate, and about what's happening, and I think we have to be better stewards of the planet."

Allred proposed additional federal investment in technology to capture carbon before it's released into the atmosphere--a proposal popular both within the fossil fuel industry and with industry-minded climate activists.

[Opponent Roland] Gutierrez has a similar view. He said he wants Texas to become a leader in renewable energy, but he also wants to ensure oil field workers are not left behind.

On Government Reform: Address voting rights & campaign finance but not term limits

Allred stopped short of backing term limits but said he understands the rationale behind the idea. He said legislation to fight partisan gerrymandering, tighten campaign finance laws and expand ballot access would more directly address frustrations with Congress.

"If you're able to address voting rights and campaign finance, which I think are the two real root causes of most of our problems, then I don't think you have to look at something like term limits," Allred said.

On Gun Control: What gun safety measures can realistically pass the Senate?

Allred credited U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, for his work advancing the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act last year, and Allred said any continued work in gun safety will have to be measured and in line with what can realistically pass a closely divided Senate.

On Health Care: No single-payer, but public option for Medicare

Allred does not support a single-payer insurance plan but supports other initiatives in his party to expand access to health care, including the creation of a public option to buy Medicare if there are no other affordable alternatives. He introduced a resolution in 2019 to intervene in the Texas lawsuit that sought to overturn the Affordable Care Act and lobbied to expand ACA subsidies through 2025 for those impacted if Texas were to pass Medicaid expansion. Texas remains one of 10 states that have not expanded Medicaid under the ACA.

Gutierrez said he wants to eliminate the ability of "rogue governors like  Greg Abbott" to decline Medicaid expansion.

As a senator, Allred said he would also focus on bringing down prescription drug costs and creating incentives to expand the number of doctors and nurses.

On Immigration: E-verify paired with pathways to citizenship

Allred has previously voted on legislation to expand funding for the U.S. Border Patrol and for physical barriers to direct migrants to ports of entry. But he dismissed a border wall stretching from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean, as former President Donald Trump advocated, as "ridiculous" and a waste of money.

[Opponent Roland] Gutierrez was also critical of a border wall, calling it a waste of time, money and resources. He said he favored a pathway to residency.

On Drugs: Medical marijuana for veterans struggling with PTSD

NORML Politician Info: rated B+
• Colin Allred (D - TX), Holds office U.S. House District 32; Candidate in race for U.S. Senate on Tuesday, November 5, 2024
• SUMMARY: LEGALIZE, TAX, AND REGULATE / DECRIMINALIZE MEDICAL USE
• Position on Marijuana Legalization: Here is Collin on Twitter [about his opponent for Congress]  Jun 7, 2018: "It is unfortunate that Pete Sessions refuses to acknowledge that medical marijuana can help our veterans coming back from war who are struggling with PTSD and chronic pain."
• Co-sponsored Legislation: H.R.2191 - Veterans Cannabis Use for Safe Healing Act

On Families & Children: Smart investments in affordable child care & early education

On Principles & Values: Fourth-generation Texan; graduate of Baylor University

On Technology: Invest billions in infrastructure & CHIPs Act for high-tech

A: I am running for Senate to give Texans the honest, pragmatic leadership we deserve. I'm proud to have been named the most bipartisan member of the Texas Congressional Delegation, and I have shown during my time in Congress that I can deliver for Texans. Whether that is fighting to protect the Affordable Care Act, and with it protections for folks with preexisting conditions, capping the cost of insulin at $35 per month and lowering the cost of prescription drugs for seniors on Medicare or passing billions of dollars in investments in infrastructure as well as the CHIPs Act to invest high-tech manufacturing.

On Abortion: Protect the freedoms and rights of women

Abortion : Ban or legal?
• Colin Allred (D): Legal. Would work "to protect the freedoms and rights of women." Calls Texas's abortion ban "cruel." Sponsored bills to enshrine federal rights to abortion and out-of-state services.
• Ted Cruz (R): Ban. Supreme Court reversing Roe v. Wade is "a massive victory for life." Opposed putting the right to abortion into federal law. Sponsored a bill criminalizing performing abortions after 20 weeks.

On Civil Rights: Guarantee civil rights protections for LGBTQ+ Americans

LGBT Rights: Limit or expand LGBTQ rights?
• Colin Allred (D):Expand. "LGBTQ+ Texans deserve a Senator who will listen to and fight for them." Sponsored two bills guaranteeing federal civil rights protections for LGBTQ+ Americans and same-sex couples.
• Ted Cruz (R):Limit. Opposed federal protection of same-sex marriage: each state should decide. Sponsored a bill banning trans athletes in women's sports.

On Corporations: Voted for a 15% corporate minimum tax

Taxes: Should corporations and wealthier individuals pay less or more taxes?
• Colin Allred (D): More. Voted to require a 15% corporate minimum tax. Criticized the 2017 Trump tax bill for prioritizing "tax cuts to billionaires and corporations." Supports a bill "to expand and extend the Child Tax Credit."
• Ted Cruz (R): Less. "We should stop the weaponization of the tax code, abolish the IRS, and start over."

On Crime: Supports common-sense police reforms like de-escalation

Criminal Justice : How to ensure effectiveness and fairness in law enforcement?
• Colin Allred (D): Supports "common-sense reforms that will restore trust in our law enforcement and ensure justice." Voted for holding police accountable, addressing racial profiling, and limiting use of force. Sponsored a bill to encourage police use of "de-escalation tools."
• Ted Cruz (R): Police are "under attack." Sponsored bills strengthening protections for police and having recruits work in their own communities. Said January 6 U.S. Capitol stormers were prosecuted more than Black Lives Matter protesters he called "terrorists."

On Drugs: Decriminalize pot nationally; pardon marijuana possession

Marijuana : Ban or legal?
• Colin Allred (D): Legal. Praised Biden's pardoning of federal offenses of marijuana possession. Voted to streamline research on marijuana and to decriminalize it nationally.
• Ted Cruz (R): No recent position found. In 2018: "Different states can resolve it differently. So in Texas...I would vote against legalizing it," but Texans should "make that decision."

On Education: Reduce and forgive student loan debt

Student Financial Aid : Support lowering interest on student loans and/or forgiving them?
• Colin Allred (D): Yes. Supports reducing and forgiving loans. "Too many Texans are burdened by student loan debt." Supports Biden's SAVE plan to cut monthly repayments.
• Ted Cruz (R): No. "Biden's decision to 'cancel' student loan debt is illegal." People getting loans canceled are "slacker baristas." Voted to repeal loan payment suspension.

On Gun Control: Supports red flag laws & assault weapons ban

Gun Laws : Loosen or tighten gun regulation?
• Colin Allred (D): Tighten. Supports "common-sense" laws to "reduce gun violence and save lives." Voted to implement "red flag" laws, raise the legal age to buy some rifles, & expand background checks. Sponsored an assault weapons ban.
• Ted Cruz (R): Loosen. Opposed bipartisan gun safety bill; it would "keep guns from law-abiding owners." Wants "more police officers" in schools.

On Jobs: Endorsed by the Texas AFL-CIO

Labor : Make it easier or harder for unions to organize?
• Colin Allred (D): Easier. "It's critical that we protect the right to organize." Supported the PRO Act providing protections for workers trying to organize. Is endorsed by the Texas AFL-CIO.
• Ted Cruz (R): Mixed. Opposed USDA's partnering with a farmworkers' union in an agricultural pilot program. Supported increasing rail union workers' number of paid sick days.

On Jobs: Raise the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour

Minimum Wage : Raise federal minimum from $7.25/hr?
• Colin Allred (D): Yes. "I'm running for Senate to fight for $15/hr." In 2019 voted to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour.
• Ted Cruz (R): No. Opposed raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour. Wage increases mean that people lose jobs; "the most vulnerable" are hurt.

On Technology: Voted for bipartisan bill for funding infrastructure

Economy : Decrease or increase government investment in, and regulation of, the economy?
• Colin Allred (D): Increase. Voted for a bipartisan bill to provide funding for infrastructure.
• Ted Cruz (R): Decrease. Voted against the bipartisan infrastructure bill, calling it "reckless."

On Abortion: When Ted Cruz says he's pro-life, he doesn't mean yours

Allred has leaned into the state abortion ban in the homestretch of the election, disputing Cruz's characterization of himself as "pro-life." "You're not pro-life," Allred said, turning to address Cruz. "It's not pro-life to deny women care so long that they can't have children anymore. It's not pro-life to force a victim of rape to carry their rapist's baby. Understand that when Ted Cruz says he's pro-life, he doesn't mean yours."

On Civil Rights: Transgender folks should not be discriminated against

[Republican incumbent Ted Cruz] also blasted Allred for recently signing onto a letter that urged GOP lawmakers to strike from an annual defense policy bill provisions that include "restricting medically necessary care for transgender service members" and restricting the use of Pride flags on bases. "You know what he argued for? Military bases should have drag shows and should be able to fly a transgender flag above it," Cruz said. "Call me old-fashioned--I think the only flag that should fly above our military base should be the American flag."

On Families & Children: Bring back child tax credit

Cruz said he was behind pushing for a child tax credit with Trump's tax cuts in 2017, but that the Democrats wanted to relax the work requirement on parents to get that credit. "We need parents to get back to work," Cruz said.

On Foreign Policy: Bring hostages home; Hamas must be held accountable

Cruz accused Allred of consistently lining up against Israel and said the bill he voted against would provide money to Gaza. He said he also voted in favor of a bill providing emergency weapons to Israel, and said Allred voted against it. When asked if Israel bears any responsibility for the tens of thousands of civilian deaths in Gaza, Cruz said there is no country on Earth that fights a more humane, more targeted and more just war than the people of Israel.

On Immigration: Don't fall into demonizing in talking about border security

[Democratic challenger Colin] Allred responded, "Listen, what I've always said is that we have to make sure that as we're talking about border security, that we don't fall into demonizing and you can take something out of context from seven years ago, which is what he's trying to do, but he doesn't want to talk about what he said this year, which is that we don't need a border bill."