RE: It’s appalling that Cruz is actually in a close race against Allred.
Heck, Cruz won by a squeaker over Beto O’Rourke the last time.
1) Republicans have taken Texas for granted.
2) There are a lot complacent Republican leaders in TX who have less than stellar records addressing the immediate needs of people. Like reforming the electrical power grid, which has been compromised during freezing cold winters and hurricane fallout in the intensely humid summer. People suffered power outages for weeks.
3) Lots of Californians moved to Texas. And hipster enclaves like Austin have Hollywood and Silicon Valley ties, driving the state’s cultural direction.
4) Texas is a border state and Latinos are not a monolith voting block by any means, but there is definitely a culturally Marxist brand of politics that resonates with sizable segment.
5) Megachurch fatigue. Megachurch corruption has impacted the spiritual condition of Texas. Materialism and sports idolatry are more a thing.
6) George Soros
7) The legacy of prominent Texas-based feminism championed by likes of the late former governor Ann Richards and her daughter Cecile, who led Planned Parenthood for many years.
Thank you new Texas immigrants from liberal states.