By Anders Lorenzen

While a lot of the focus has been on the presidential election there’s several other crucial elections on November the 5th.

Elections to the US Senate, House of Representatives, Gubernatorial elections as well as state elections will be crucial regardless of who wins the Presidential Election.

It has long been a given that Texas is a no-go area for Democrats, but in the 2018 Senate election, Ted Cruz, a potent climate denier, was nearly unseated by the progressive Democrat and former rockstar Beto ‘O Rourke.  

And this year it looks narrowly tight between Cruz and his Democratic challenger, former American Football star Colin Allred. With Cruz being narrowly ahead according to the latest polls, it is within the 2% margin of error.

Cruz the climate denier

Cruz vehemently rejects the scientific consensus on climate science while receiving millions in donations from the fossil fuel industry, and he was one of 22 Senators who signed a letter urging Donald Trump to withdraw from the Paris Agreement.

Though Allred is not a strong climate advocate in line with climate progressives in the Democratic Party, he does firmly agree with and support climate science and climate actions.

Allred who currently sits in the US House favours clean energy but also have a positive opinion of the fossil fuel industry. He supports an all-of-the-above energy strategy – essentially meaning he does not close the door on any energy source. 

The former professional sports star campaign website states: ‘Colin will continue to support responsible oil and gas production as he has done during his time in Congress’. Though he does support further regulation on the fossil fuel industry, arguing we need to take steps to plug oil and gas methane leaks. And he wants Texas to be a clean energy leader.

While he is not willing to dismiss the fossil fuel industry, he has a strong voting record when it comes to climate and energy matters. The League of Conservation Voters gives Allred a lifetime score of 98% and for 2023 100%.

Whether more Texans are shifting towards the Democratic party and if they can no longer bring themselves to vote for a climate denier we will see on November the 5th. Though Allred is still expected to loose and it will be a major upset if he were to win and will signal a real shift in Texas, giving Democrats confidence that it is a state to play for.