4 May 11–17, 2023 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents Will He Lose to Cruz? Dallas Congressman Colin Allred to take on Sen. Ted Cruz. BY SIMONE CARTER D allas’ Colin Allred, a former NFL linebacker turned Democratic con- gressman, is now training to tackle Ted Cruz in the 2024 race for U.S. Senate. In a video posted to social media last week, Allred unveiled his bid to unseat Texas’ Republican junior senator. The campaign an- nouncement dragged Cruz for stoking con- spiracy theories that led to the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and for jet-setting to Cancun while his constituents froze amid a record-breaking deadly winter storm. Allred then explains in the ad that he never knew his dad and was raised by a sin- gle mother, who was a public school teacher working multiple jobs to make do. He cred- its his family, YMCA counselors and coaches for keeping him “on the right track” and said he learned important life lessons on the football field at Hillcrest High School in Dal- las and at Baylor University. Cruz puts himself before his constituents and works to divide instead of unite, Allred says in the roughly 3-minute spot. “We don’t have to be embarrassed by our senator. We can get a new one,” he says. “Some people say a Democrat can’t win in Texas. Well, someone like me was never supposed to get this far,” Allred continues. “I’ve taken down a lot tougher guys than Ted Cruz. So let’s get on the field and find out.” If Allred is victorious in the Democratic pri- mary for U.S. Senate, he’ll be faced with a bigger hurdle: unseating Cruz in a staunchly conservative Texas. The last time that Cruz’s job was up for grabs, in 2018, then-Demo- cratic nominee Beto O’Rourke came within 3 points of success. And even though many Texas Democrats are energized by Allred’s announcement, the congressman himself acknowledges that it could be a difficult match. Allred today comes across fairly equally compared with where O’Rourke stood in 2018, before the latter’s subsequent failed bids for the presidency and Texas governor, said David Rausch, a political science profes- sor at West Texas A&M University. Allred has an advantage given that he comes from the well-populated Dallas area, which boasts a sizable media market that he can tap into. Still, Allred will need to introduce him- self to other parts of the state and make in- roads with Hispanic voters, Rausch said. Flipping Cruz’s seat will be tough. “It’s not impossible, but it may be not the most possible outcome,” Rausch said before adding: “I wouldn’t bet on it.” Many Republicans will dismiss Allred outright because they refuse to vote for any- one on the other side of the aisle, Rausch continued. Allred’s record of bipartisanship in Congress could potentially give him a boost, but it also may mean that he has to work harder to prove himself to progressive Democrats. The Dallas County Democratic Party is excited to see Allred run, citing his “proven track record” of delivering results and con- necting with Texas voters. “He’s already proven that he’s capable of unseating a Republican incumbent, and he’ll be an exceptionally strong candidate in this race,” the county party said in a statement emailed to the Observer (Allred defeated in- cumbent Republican Pete Sessions to win his congressional seat in 2018.) “Ted Cruz doesn’t reflect Texas values, he doesn’t work for Texas voters, and he’d better be ready for some serious competition from the Demo- crats this time around.” In response to Allred’s announcement, Cruz’s campaign touted the senator’s efforts to fight for “jobs, freedom, and security in Texas.” Spokesperson Nick Maddux blasted Allred as a “far-left radical” whose voting re- cord doesn’t align with the state’s values. “Allred wants men to compete in women’s sports, isn’t serious about addressing the cri- sis at the border, wants to take away law-abid- ing Texans’ guns, and is soft on punishing murderers,” Maddux continued in the state- ment. “Bottom line, Allred is too extreme for Texas. Thankfully, the Lone Star State has a tireless champion in Sen. Ted Cruz.” The Texas Democratic Party issued a statement congratulating Allred. Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa described him as some- one who fights for everyday Texans. Hinojosa then railed against Cruz, whose “spinelessness, lack of leadership, and cow- ering to special interest groups and rich do- nors have time and time again failed the working families of our state.” He added that although the party stays neutral in Democratic primaries, if Allred were to win the nomination, Cruz may need to pack his bags for Cancun once more. ▼ SPORTS THE COWBOY WAY HAS THE COWBOYS’ OWNER FINALLY RUN OUT OF IDEAS? BY RICHIE WHITT I n the 27 years since the Dallas Cowboys last played in a Super Bowl, owner Jerry Jones has seemingly tried everything. Hanging on to Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin too long. Handing the reins to quarterback Quincy Carter, of all people. Selling his brand and soul to New York by hiring coach Bill Parcells. Gambling on Terrell Owens, Pacman Jones, Bobby Car- penter and Randy Gregory. Putting his faith, time and time again, in Tony Romo. Trusting Jason Garrett’s cherished “process.” Invest- ing in Dak Prescott too soon, or ever? Finally, evidenced by April’s NFL draft, Jones has completely run out of ideas. No? Then you explain why the Cowboys selected a player who is not, in fact, tall enough to ride this ride and kept the door open to reuniting with an ex they just kicked to the curb a month ago. No idea is a bad idea when you’re mired in the longest losing drought in franchise history, but the Cowboys are actually more than simply spitballin’ with new running back Deuce Vaughn (all 5 feet, 5 inches and 179 pounds of him) and old running back Ezekiel Elliott (cut from the roster in March because he cost $10 million too much for a guy who has lost a step or two). “That ship hasn’t sailed,” Jones recently maintained about a possible Elliott return. “I haven’t ruled out Zeke.” If that break-up-just-to-make-up narrative doesn’t tug at your heartstrings, how about some good-ol’-boy-network nepotism at its finest? Vaughn’s father, Chris, has worked as a scout for the Cowboys since 2017. The touch- ing war-room video of Chris realizing his employer was actually going to draft his son went viral, giving the Cowboys one of the draft’s best warm-’n-fuzzy moments. “He’s the hardest worker I know,” father said of son, between tears. If the Cowboys were gearing up for a sea- son on the Hallmark channel, they’d be Super Bowl favorites. But they play in the NFL — specifically in the NFC East division — and their novelty act experiments in the backfield will do little to convince fans that this season won’t turn out just like the last 27 seasons. Equipped with a $10 million contract, rising star Tony Pollard will be Dallas’ fea- tured running back in 2023. The Cowboys had seven draft choices to find his suitable backup. Instead, they came away only with a scout’s diminutive son who ran a relatively glacial 4.6 40-yard at Kansas State’s Pro Day and who will be chased by tacklers a foot taller and 150 pounds heavier. Instead, they came away only with only reconciliation overtures to a soon-to-be 28-year-old Brian Maschino Colin Allred is back in the race against Cruz. | UNFAIR PARK | Stacy Revere/Getty Images New Cowboys’ running back Deuce Vaughn is the son of Cowboys’ scout Chris Vaughn. >> p6
