Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas rallied supporters in the Fort Worth Stockyards on Nov. 1, emphasizing the importance of the upcoming election.
While noting that politicians often talk about the importance of elections, Cruz said the 2024 race is exceptionally important.
“Holy cow! Have you ever seen a bigger difference between presidential candidates?” Cruz said.
He was introduced by Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare, who called Cruz a fighter for conservative values in the U.S. Senate.
“Ted Cruz changed the way we look at government and our country, and the way people are now willing to stand up and fight for America,” O’Hare said.
O’Hare called Democrats “the greatest threat to American exceptionalism in the history of our country” and encouraged people to vote.
Cruz reiterated a statement from his Oct. 5 rally in Keller, Texas, that the race was a battle between “sane and crazy.”
He hammered his Democratic opponent, Colin Allred, for his support for transgender rights and his voting record, in line with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
“It was like he walked into the House, pulled out his voting card, walked over and said, ‘Here, Nancy, take that,’” Cruz said.
His speech focused on the themes of jobs, freedom and security.
He was referring to a satirical article from the website Babylon Bee that joked that Texas was building a border wall with U-Haul trucks from California.
There’s truth to that, Cruz said, noting that Texas has seen about 1,000 people a day move to the state in recent years.
“Many of them to Tarrant County,” Cruz said, drawing a groan from some of the hundred or so attendees.
People come from so-called “blue states” where they have high taxes, regulations, crime and “crazy politicians,” Cruz said.
The key to keeping Texas’ economy strong is supporting low taxes and reducing regulations, Cruz said, framing the statement as part of his campaign theme of “Keeping Texas Texas.”
When speaking about freedom, Cruz talked about protecting the Second Amendment, preserving religious freedom and preventing “boys from participating in girls’ sports.”
One of the major parties doesn’t know what a woman is, Cruz claimed, adding: “That didn’t used to be a trick question.”
Cruz also spoke about supporting stricter immigration policies and supporting law enforcement.
He blamed the Biden administration’s border policies for allowing millions of undocumented immigrants into the country, saying some of them would commit crimes.
He was referring to the story of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray of Houston, who was sexually assaulted and murdered in June. Two Venezuelan men, previously apprehended by US Border Patrol, are on trial for her murder.
“This happens every day, every day, every day another American is murdered, every day another woman is raped, another child is abused by violent criminal illegal aliens,” Cruz said, citing Allred and Vice President Kamala blamed Harris.
Cruz promised that a new Trump administration would track down, arrest and deport undocumented immigrants who have committed murder.
Internal polling from the Allred campaign shows the race is in a dead heat. However, pole aggregators including 538 and RealClearPolitics have Cruz ahead by about three to four points.
Early voting in Texas ends Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. Election day is November 5.
