A world of distinction was on show as U.S. Rep. Colin Allred and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz teed off of their first primetime debate this week forward of the Texas Senate election subsequent month.

The controversy passed off Tuesday, Oct. 15, in Dallas. Moderators questioned the candidates on hot-button points resembling abortion, the continued warfare in Israel, inflation, border coverage, housing costs and extra in a debate that lasted an hour.

To make certain, there was little in the best way of distinction wanted between the 2 candidates — Allred, D-Dallas, and Cruz, R-TX, signify wildly completely different political opinions — however the debate offered voters with a possibility to see simply how nicely one may stand as much as the opposite.

Allred has an uphill battle within the Nov. 5 election as he seeks to unseat the entrenched Cruz, who’s now looking for his third time period within the U.S. Senate. Amid tight ballot numbers, Cruz continues to carry a slim lead within the race with solely weeks to go earlier than the election.

Listed here are key takeaways from the candidates’ first — and sure solely — debate earlier than Election Day, Nov. 5.

Jabs start at onset

Neither Cruz nor Allred spared any time on pleasantries.

After briefly introducing himself to the viewing viewers throughout Texas, Allred instantly chided Cruz for his notorious jaunt to Cancun in 2021 as Texas confronted its worst vitality disaster in historical past and tens of millions had been left with out electrical energy, water or meals.

“We do not have to be embarrassed by our senator,” he stated. “We will get a brand new one.”

Extra:Texas senate race 2024 polls: Colin Allred trails Ted. Cruz by 3 factors

For his half, Cruz struck a pleasing tone in his opening remarks, noting how unimaginable it’s that he, the son of Cuban immigrants, and Allred, raised by a single mom, may each have the privilege of representing Texas in Congress.

That light rapidly, nevertheless, as Cruz alleged that Allred would try to keep away from his personal voting report and warned that Allred’s marketing campaign was constructed on attempting to undo all that’s going proper in Texas.

Abortion restrictions

Cruz was grilled on his assist for the near-total abortion ban in Texas, which incorporates no exceptions for circumstances of rape or incest, regardless of having beforehand cosponsored a invoice that included such exceptions.

Cruz asserted that any variations of opinion on reproductive rights ought to be addressed on the poll field, the place he famous Texans have overwhelmingly supported abortion restrictions resembling a prohibition on late-term abortions and a requirement that folks be notified earlier than a toddler undergoes an abortion.

Allred countered by rejecting Cruz’s declare that Texans have reached a consensus on the state’s strict abortion regulation.

Extra:Who received the Texas Senate debate? This is what X needed to say concerning the Cruz vs Allred debate

Allred, in the meantime, relayed the story of Kate Cox, who fled Texas to obtain a medically essential abortion after being denied care within the state. If elected, he stated he would work to revive a lady’s proper to decide on and enshrine Roe v. Wade because the regulation of the land.

 “Once I’m in the USA Senate, we’ll restore a lady’s proper to decide on,” Allred stated. “We’ll make Roe v. Wade the regulation of the land once more, and we’ll make these tales of seeing these horrific experiences happening throughout our state one thing of the previous.”

Cruz was pressed on whether or not he supported exceptions in sure abortion circumstances, however he once more pivoted, saying Allred voted to strike down parental notification and consent legal guidelines and legalize late-term abortions. In the end, Cruz refused to say if he supported broader abortion exemptions, saying these selections are higher left to every state’s legislature.

“I imagine in democracy,” he stated.

Cruz held the road in opposition to increasing exemptions for girls going through doable dying from a failed being pregnant or as crime victims of rape or incest.

 “Now, as for what the regulation ought to be in Texas, that is a choice that shall be made by the state legislature,” Cruz stated. “You already know, Congressman Allred is operating all kinds of adverts saying that I made this resolution.”

Battle over border, immigration coverage

When it got here to the border, Allred was questioned on his assertion that former President Donald Trump’s border wall was “racist” and ought to be torn down solely to come back out just lately in assist of extra deterrent measures on the border.

Allred did admit he helps “bodily boundaries” as a part of the border safety technique.

He once more leaned on his experiences spending time in Brownsville with a grandfather who labored as a U.S. Customs officer. He criticized Cruz for utilizing the border as a “safari,” noting that efforts to offering funding for extra sources on the border have frequently been stifled by Cruz and his Republican counterparts.

Extra:Colin Allred launches TV adverts concentrating on Ted Cruz on border points, polls present tight race

Cruz famous Allred has voted in opposition to a border wall on a number of events and together with Vice President Kamala Harris — who at present has a restricted function in setting immigration coverage — has advocated frequently for “open borders.”

He stated he and Trump had “unimaginable success” on the border, getting unlawful immigration numbers right down to a 45-year low.

Allred took Cruz to process on his earlier claims {that a} border invoice in Congress was pointless. He chided the senator for campaigning on a border disaster however failing to get options handed throughout his 12 years in workplace.

“It is a sample,” he stated. “He talks robust, however he by no means reveals up.”

Inflation after COVID-19

Cruz labored arduous throughout the debate in charge the Biden administration’s put up COVID-19 financial insurance policies for the excessive costs of meals and housing. He linked Allred to these insurance policies, saying he was a agency supporter of the pandemic restoration plan.

Cruz additional criticized the plan saying the White Home was warned {that a} spending spree on the federal stage would result in inflation. In the course of the debate, Cruz didn’t provide another plan to stave off the financial hardship brought on by Washington’s failure to regulate the unfold of the corona virus throughout the nation.

Allred acknowledged the struggling of Texans who’re struggling to pay for meals. He stated he has labored in Congress to decrease prices on well being care and different primary wants. He referred to as for a higher funding in public infrastructure to make it doable to construct new housing to satisfy the demand in Texas. Allred stated the nation remains to be coping with provide and distribution woes associated to the pandemic.

Adam Powell covers authorities and politics for the El Paso Occasions and will be reached by way of e mail at apowell@elpasotimes.com