The 2024 Senate Election: Why I’m Standing with Colin Allred

How Colin Allred earned my vote in 2024.

The 2024 DNC has now come and gone, and it was one hell of a party. Now, we wait and see if this shindig gives Kamala Harris and the down-ballot Democrats a boost in the polls. My guess? It will.

As this quadrennial extravaganza wrapped up, the Democratic candidate for Junior US Senator Colin Allred took the stage. He crushed it.

Allred did fantastic and I can’t wait to vote for him in November. While in the primary, I endorsed his opponent and shared my concern about his race. He’s grown on me. Now, I’m not just voting against Ted Cruz (though that’s a strong motivator). I’m voting for Colin Allred. And even though we don’t see eye-to-eye on every policy issue, he’s the right choice for Texas, and I’ll tell you why.

But first, a funny (and slightly embarrassing) story about the first time I met Colin Allred. Buckle up because this one’s at my expense. 😉

The first time I met Colin Allred was in 2023. It was a small event and very early on in the primary. What was going through my head at the time—maybe it was the lack of caffeine, perhaps the heat, I couldn’t tell you—but I stuck my foot so far into my mouth, it’s incredible I didn’t taste shoe leather.

The first thing I said to him was, “Roland Guiterrez follows me on Twitter, and you don’t.” 🤦🏻‍♀️

Yep. That’s how I introduced myself to a future US Senator.

Now, does Twitter matter? Absolutely not. Policy is the only thing that matters. But did I make it sound like Twitter was important? You bet I did. It was my very own “I carried a watermelon” moment.

Allred, to his credit, took it in stride. He just raised an eyebrow and said, “You’re still on there, even though the Nazis have taken over?” (I’m paraphrasing here, but you get the idea.)

And there I was, staring at him like a deer caught in headlights, unsure whether to laugh, cry, or quietly disappear into the background. Then, my friend standing nearby jumped in and said, “She’s on Facebook, too.”

After that, I managed to steer the conversation back to policy issues, and by the end of our chat, he was kind enough to take a picture with me before we said our goodbyes.

So, why did I share that cringeworthy tale?

While we may not agree on every policy, what truly matters is whether a candidate can listen, respond with empathy, and work toward solutions that improve our lives.

He didn’t brush me off or make me feel small despite my less-than-stellar introduction. Instead, he engaged, joked, and ultimately focused on what matters—policy.

That day showed me that he genuinely cares about the people he represents and is willing to have honest, sometimes uncomfortable conversations to get to the heart of the issues.

What are Colin Allred’s policy issues?

Allred has been a champion for women’s rights. While in Congress, he has worked hard to stop Republicans from stripping our rights and has pushed for restoring abortion access in Texas.

Colin Allred is a big union guy; he is part of a union and received the endorsement of the AFL-CIO. He also supports expanding the Pell Grant.

He will strongly oppose Republicans’ cuts to Social Security and Medicare.

Collin Allred has voted to increase the minimum wage.

He supports public education and universal pre-K. As a voting rights lawyer, he will vote to restore and expand voting rights for all Texans. Allred also is in favor of expanding clean energy in Texas.

You can see all of his policy issues here.

Colin Allred is someone progressives can work with.

While Allred doesn’t check all the boxes, he does hit many excellent points.

Please listen to what Michelle Obama had to say this week.

This has been a discussion among Democrats, especially progressives, in recent months. Agreeing with specific candidates on 98% of the issues and then trashing them or declaring they won’t get our vote because of the 2% of issues we disagree on.

For Colin Allred, whether we disagree with his stance on universal healthcare or expanding the Supreme Court, or even if we don’t like his campaigning style, he still agrees with us 98% of the time.

For context, the other guy agrees with us 0% of the time.

The stakes in the 2024 election couldn’t be higher.

This isn’t just another election; it’s a battle for our state and nation’s soul. The choices we make at the ballot box this November will determine the future of our democracy, our rights, and our environment.

On one side, we have Colin Allred, a candidate who has repeatedly shown that he’s willing to fight for the people of Texas. He stands for reproductive rights, voting rights, and a clean energy future. He’s committed to protecting Social Security and Medicare, ensuring every Texan has access to quality education, and standing up for the working class.

On the other side, we have Ted Cruz, a man who has consistently aligned himself with the most extreme elements of his party. Cruz, like many Republicans, has embraced policies that are not only out of touch with the majority of Texans but are also dangerous to the very fabric of our democracy. His opposition to reproductive rights, his support for voter suppression, and his ties to the fossil fuel industry show that his priorities lie with a small, powerful elite, not with the people of Texas.

And then there’s the looming shadow of Donald Trump and his Project 2025, a blueprint for a fascist takeover of the American government. Trump’s plan is clear: to erode our democratic institutions, strip away rights, and centralize power in a way that undermines the very principles this country was founded on. If Republicans like Cruz are reelected, they will be the ones enabling this agenda.

This is why unity among Democrats is more critical than ever.

Colin Allred will listen to us. Ted Cruz will not.

The next time I see Colin Allred, I will try to explain to him why universal healthcare is a better option for America. If the conversation lasts longer than five minutes, I’ll try to squeeze in a few talking points about the Supreme Court.

Allred would listen.

I’ll never see Ted Cruz. I’ll never get the chance to talk to Ted Cruz. He’s an uber-elite who has spent the last decade ignoring his constituents.

Since Allred already agrees with us on so many things, we can spend the next six years trying to convince him to change his opinion. That’s a luxury we’ll never have with Cancun Cruz.

I’m all in for Colin Allred and urge you to be, too.

This election is about more than flipping a Senate seat. It’s about ensuring that Texas has a voice in Washington that reflects our values, needs, and hopes for the future. It’s about electing someone who will fight for all of us, not just the wealthy few.

Colin Allred is that candidate. He’s shown he’s ready to stand up for Texans and the principles that make this country great. That’s why I’m voting for him, and I hope you will, too.

Vote early, vote often, just vote.

• October 7: Last day to register to vote.

• October 21: First day to early vote.

• October 25: Last day to apply for a mail-in ballot.

• November 1: Last day to early vote.

• November 5: Election day!

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