Roland Gutierrez vs. Colin Allred On The Policies

Two Paths Forward: Who will best represent the Lone Star State?

Feb 10, 2024

In November, I do not doubt that Texans will show up and vote Ted Cruz out of office. Let’s face it: a walnut in the Senate would be more useful than Cruz. Roland Gutierrez and Colin Allred have been polling nearly identical numbers in a hypothetical matchup against the Cancun Goblin. So, Texas Democrats must decide who of the two they would rather see in the Senate representing the Lone Star State.

Cruz is out, but which of the two will represent us better?

As both Roland Gutierrez and Colin Allred are Democrats, it should be no surprise that they share a few positions. First, let’s talk about what they have in common, then we’ll talk about their differences.

Where are their positions similar?

Labor and Workers’ Rights. Gutierrez and Allred favor the PRO Act; both candidates have favorable labor and workers’ rights positions.
Climate Change and Environmental Policy. Both support aggressive action on climate change, investment in renewable energy, and protection of environmental regulations. This can be seen in the voting records of Gutierrez and Allred.
Women’s Rights. Both candidates want to protect reproductive rights and codify Roe v. Wade. They both also support equal pay for equal work.
Economic Inequality. Gutierrez and Allred support increasing the minimum wage and appropriately taxing the wealthy.
Universal Pre-K. Both candidates support universal pre-k.
Racial Justice and Police Reform. Gutierrez and Allred are both attorneys. Gutierrez practices immigration law, and Allred practices voting rights law. Both have a history addressing systemic racism and supporting civil rights legislation. They both also support reforming policing practices.
Voting Rights. Both candidates want to expand access to voting. They both have a history of fighting voter suppression.
LGBTQ+ Rights. In the Senate, either candidate would fight to ensure equal rights for LGBTQ+ individuals and transgender rights.
Cannabis. Both Gutierrez and Allred support legalizing cannabis.
Criminal Justice Reform. Both support reducing incarceration rates and reforming the justice system.
Gun Sense. Both want to enact common-sense gun laws to reduce gun violence, including background checks and assault weapons bans.

It is essential to talk about their similarities because voters under both camps worry that if “their candidate” loses in the primary next month, we’ll be stuck with Cruz. We won’t. Regardless of who wins in March, Cruz is out in November.

However, these two Democrats are far from carbon copies of one another, and some critical policy positions significantly differ from one another. Depending on who you are and the essential things to you, these may be dealbreakers. So, we must explore them.

Healthcare.

Roland Gutierrez believes healthcare is a human right and said he will back legislation for Universal Healthcare.
Colin Allred worked on Obamacare when he worked under the Obama administration. However, in his run for US Senate, he has stated he’ll leave the healthcare decisions to the Texas Legislature.

Immigration.

Roland Gutierrez has a five-point immigration plan that includes a pathway to normalcy for undocumented workers, justice for DREAMers, a new work program for arriving migrants, fixing and streamlining dysfunctional visa programs, and ending human trafficking and stopping drug cartels.
While Colin Allred supports immigration reform, he also has supported building a border wall and recently voted with the Maga-wing of the Republican Party to condemn President Biden on the border conspiracies the GOP started.

Israel-Palestine.

Roland Gutierrez supports a ceasefire in Gaza.
Colin Allred is heavily funded by AIPAC and is against a ceasefire.

Higher Education.

Roland Gutierrez has proposed a tax credit for college students that would help offset the cost of college tuition.
Colin Allred has stated he believes in affordable education but has not gotten behind any policy position.

Universal School Lunches.

Roland Gutierrez has a platform position that supports universal school lunches.
Colin Allred has not expressed any interest in universal school lunches. When a bill for universal school lunches was filed in Congress, 100 Democrats co-signed it, but Allred was not one of them.

The Filibuster.

Roland Gutierrez has promised to vote on killing the filibuster to get things done.
Colin Allred does not support killing the filibuster.

Expanding the Supreme Court.

Roland Gutierrez favors expanding the Supreme Court to reflect the 13 circuit courts on which it was built.
Colin Allred does not support expanding the Supreme Court.

As Texans face the upcoming Senate race, the choice between Roland Gutierrez and Colin Allred presents an opportunity for profound change. Both candidates offer a vision for a more equitable, just, and sustainable Texas, aligning on many critical issues, from labor rights to environmental policies and women’s rights to criminal justice reform. Their shared positions underscore a Democratic unity on foundational values, offering hope for those concerned about the prospect of another term with Ted Cruz.

However, the distinctions between Gutierrez and Allred on healthcare, immigration, and other pivotal issues highlight the diversity within party lines and the importance of informed voting. These differences are not just nuances but could significantly impact Texans’ lives, making the upcoming primary not just a choice between two candidates but a decision on the direction Texas will take on healthcare, immigration policy, and beyond.

This election is about unseating Ted Cruz and setting a course toward a Texas that reflects its residents’ diverse needs and aspirations. As Texans prepare to vote, they do so knowing that their choice will shape not just the next six years but the future of the Lone Star State.