Republican, former Canadian and longtime Cancun vacationer, Ted Cruz has been reelected to serve in the Senate, representing Texas for six more years. Cruz won with 53% and beat out Democrat Colin Allred, who only got 44%. Bearing another six years with Cruz in the Senate battling progressive policies and setting Texans back is an exhausting prospect.
Cruz first served as senator from 2003-2008 and was elected again from 2012 to present. A report from NBC shows that during this election, 47% of women cast their ballots for Cruz, while 51% voted for Allred.
According to Cruz’s website, he “has long fought against Democrats’ attempts to limit Texans’ freedoms.” He claims he will be a senator for all Texans. However, his actions say otherwise. From restricting women’s rights to undermining Texas education, Cruz disregards what Texans want and need.
Cruz does not believe women can make their own choices about their bodies, as seen in his vote against pro-choice legislation and support for the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v Wade. During his debate with Allred, he refused to answer any question pertaining to abortion when it comes to medical emergencies, rape or incest. Cruz has voted “yes” and sponsored bills that prohibit abortion unless under extreme circumstances, which are often difficult to prove.
Many women have had to jump through hoops in order to seek medical help from Texas hospitals. This has led to multiple deaths this year. Most recently, 18-year-old Nevaeh Crain died after an ER did not treat her for more than two hours while she experienced pregnancy complications.
While Cruz’s stance on women’s rights has wreaked havoc on Texas families, his approach to education similarly undermines the future of the children in Texas. Cruz believes in school vouchers and choice. This gives financial support to families who remove their kids from public school to put them into private school. S.B. 1 would allot $8,000 annually to cover all fees being charged.
Even though Texas Republicans have pushed for these laws to be signed, none have been passed. Division from Republicans and resistance from Democrats has halted the progress to defund public schools and turn them into religious private schools. Defunding public schools puts disadvantaged communities at risk of not being able to afford their children an education.
“Texas Republicans have once again sold out our kids’ future. Public dollars belong in public schools. Period,” Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa said in an Oct. 13. Statement.
With six more years ahead of us, Texas will have to survive under Cruz and figure out how much longer they can tolerate his policies. Cruz’s policies have systematically halted and undermined progress in Texas, leaving its minority population without protections. From restricting women’s rights to weakening public education, Cruz’s policies prioritize his conservative ideology over the real needs of the people who reelected him.
