Chamber of Commerce endorses Ted Cruz over challenger Colin Allred in Texas Senate race

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has endorsed Texas Senator Ted Cruz over his challenger Colin Allred in the state's upcoming race, a potential boost as polls show him solidifying his lead.

While the decision might not be particularly surprising, as the group tends to back Republican candidates, Allred was among the few Democrats who had been endorsed in previous races. It was the case in 2020 and 2022, when he ended up beating Republicans Genevieve Collins and Antonio Swad, respectively.

But Cruz ended up getting the support this time, with the group making the announcement during a tour through the state. "As a leader in the U.S. Senate, Ted Cruz has been a champion for pro-growth policies that help Texas businesses, individuals, and families achieve their American dream," said Neil Bradley, the group's executive vice president and chief policy officer, in a statement.

"Senator Cruz has a proven track record of support for policies that cut taxes, fight regulatory overreach, boost domestic energy production, modernize infrastructure, and promote trade, while protecting American jobs," he added.

Cruz, on his end, celebrated the endorsement, saying his main priority when he entered Congress was "fighting for jobs." "I am proud of my work in the U.S. Senate to advocate for legislation that supports free markets, limits government, and fosters economic development, and I will continue to fight day in and day out to preserve and grow Texas's thriving 'Main Street' businesses," he said.

Allred's campaign also reacted to the endorsement, saying that he backed bipartisan legislation supported by the chamber, while Cruz voted against it. "As the most bipartisan Texan in Congress, he's championed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the CHIPS and Science Act, and has worked hand in hand with the business community to grow our economy and create Texas jobs," said campaign spokesperson Josh Stewart. "Ted Cruz voted no on these Texas industry priorities because all he cares about is himself."

Cruz has recently expanded his lead over Allred in the race, according to the latest poll. The study, conducted by Quantus Polls and News among 1,000 registered voters between August 29 and 30, shows the incumbent with a 7-point lead over Allred, 50% to 43%.

It is a larger gap compared to a survey from earlier in the month by YouGov, which surveyed 1,365 likely voters between August 5 and 16 and had Cruz with 47% of the support compared to Allred's 45%. Another poll by the Democratic-sponsored Clean and Prosperous America also showed the challenger lagging by a narrow, 2-point margin.

However, the gap seems to have widened since. An ActiVote study conducted between August 13 and 29 among 400 likely voters concluded that Cruz had a solid lead, 55% to 45%.