TEXAS, USA — Republican Sen. Ted Cruz and Democratic U.S. Rep. Colin Allred will meet tonight at WFAA's studios for their first and only debate before the November election.
Allred is hoping to unseat the incumbent Cruz, in a seemingly close race that could have a major impact on the Senate for years to come.
The Senate is a crucial part of the U.S. government, made up of 100 senators, with two representing each of the 50 states. The U.S. House, by comparison, is comprised of 435 members that are elected through local congressional districts. The Senate, though, is decided through statewide elections.
John Cornyn is the other Texas Senator. He'll run again for re-election in 2026.
The Senate is closely split at the moment, with the Democrats only having a slight majority -- 51 Democrats to 49 Republicans. Whoever wins their Senate seat will have it for some time, as senators have six-year long terms, the longest of any elected officials in the U.S.
There are 34 Senate seats up for grabs this November, 23 of which are held by Democrats or Independents. This election represents a major opportunity for Republicans to seize back control of the upper chamber of Congress. So the Democrats will have to either hold onto their seats up for grabs, or manage to unseat the Republican senators that are up for election.
One of those seats is that of Cruz. Since 2013, Cruz has represented Texas in the Senate. This is his third time running, and his second time running for re-election after he beat Democratic challenger Beto O'Rourke in a shockingly close race in 2018.
It has been more than 30 years since Texas last had a Democratic senator. The last Democrat to hold the office was Bob Krueger in 1993, who was appointed to fill the seat after the previous senator, Democrat Lloyd Bentson, was appointed as the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury. But Krueger's tenure was a brief one as he was defeated by Kay Bailey Hutchison in June 1993, less than six months into his tenure.
The debate begins tonight at 7 p.m. on WFAA and on WFAA+.
Election Day is Nov. 5. Early voting begins Oct. 21.
