"Texas Democrat Roland Gutierrez Challenges Ted Cruz for Senate Seat"
Texas state Senator Roland Gutierrez has announced his bid for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Ted Cruz, becoming the second prominent Democrat to challenge the Republican incumbent. Gutierrez criticized Cruz and other Republicans for neglecting rural Texas communities and prioritizing the interests of the wealthy. He will face Rep. Colin Allred in the Democratic primary, while the Cruz campaign seeks to portray both Gutierrez and Allred as too liberal for the state. Democrats have not won a statewide election in Texas since 1994 and have not represented Texas in the U.S. Senate since 1993.