Ted Cruz and Colin Allred meet in the only debate in the Texas Senate race

DALLAS (AP) — Republican Sen. Ted Cruz and Democratic Rep. Colin Allred met for their only debate Tuesday night, trading attacks over abortion and immigration in a closely watched race that could help determine which party wins control of the U.S. Senate.

Nationally, Democrats view Texas as one of their few potential pickup chances in the Senate this year, while Cruz has urged Republicans to take Texas seriously amid signs that the former 2016 presidential contender is in another competitive race to keep his seat.

From start to finish in the hourlong debate, Cruz sought to link Allred to Vice President Kamala Harris at nearly every opportunity and painted the three-term Dallas congressman as out of step in a state where voters have not elected a Democrat to a statewide office in 30 years.

Allred, who would become Texas' first Black senator if elected, hammered Cruz over the state's abortion ban that is one of the most restrictive in the nation and does not allow exceptions in cases of rape or incest. The issue is central to Allred's underdog campaign and his supporters include Texas women who had serious pregnancy complications after the state's ban took effect.

Pressed on whether he supports Texas' law, Cruz said the specifics of abortion law have been and should be decided by the Texas Legislature.

“I don’t serve in the state Legislature. I’m not the governor,” he said.

Cruz later blasted Allred over his support of transgender rights and immigration polices of President Joe Biden and Harris, accusing him of shifting his views on border security from the positions he took when he was first elected to Congress in 2018.

“What I always said is that we have to make sure that as we’re talking about border security, that we don’t fall into demonizing,” Allred said.

Allred accused the two-term U.S. senator of mischaracterizing his record and repeatedly jabbed Cruz for his family vacation to Mexico during a deadly winter storm in 2021 that crippled the state’s power grid.

The two candidates closed the debate by attacking each other, with Cruz painting an Allred victory as a threat to Republicans’ grip on Texas.

“Congressman Allred and Kamala Harris are both running on the same radical agenda,” Cruz said.

Allred, meanwhile, cast himself as a moderate and accused Cruz of engaging in what he described as “anger-tainment, where you just leave people upset and you podcast about it and you write a book about it and you make some money on it, but you're not actually there when people need you.”

The last time Cruz was on the ballot in 2018, he only narrowly won reelection over challenger Beto O'Rourke.

The debate offered Allred, a former NFL linebacker, a chance to boost his name identification to a broad Texas audience. Allred has made protecting abortion rights a centerpiece of his campaign and has been sharply critical of the state's abortion ban. The issue has been a winning one for Democrats, even in red states like Kentucky and Kansas, ever since the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in 2022 to strip away constitutional protections for abortion.

Cruz, who fast made a name for himself in the Senate as an uncompromising conservative, has refashioned his campaign to focus on his legislative record.

Allred has meanwhile sought to flash moderate credentials and has the endorsement of former Republican U.S. Reps. Adam Kinzinger and Liz Cheney.

The two candidates alone have raised close to $100 million, according to the most recent reports from the Federal Election Commission. Tens of millions more dollars have been spent by outside groups, making it one of the most expensive races in the country.

Despite Texas' reputation as a deep-red state and the Democrats' 30-year statewide drought, the party has grown increasingly optimistic in recent years that they can win here.

Since former President Barack Obama lost Texas by more than 15 percentage points in 2012, the margins have steadily declined. Former President Donald Trump won by 9 percentage points in 2016, and four years later, won by less than 6. That was the narrowest victory for a Republican presidential candidate in Texas since 1996.

“Texas is a red state," said Mark Jones, a political science professor at Rice University in Houston. “But it’s not a ruby-red state."

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, addresses supporters during a campaign event, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Keller, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas, waves to supporters at a campaign event at Tulips FTW, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/Desiree Rios)

This combination photo shows Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas, Aug. 22, 2024, in Chicago, left, and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Sept. 27, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo)

Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas, top left, and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, greet each other at the beginning of a U.S. Senate debate, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in Dallas. (Shelby Tauber/Texas Tribune via AP, Pool)

Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas, top left, takes notes as Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks during a U.S. Senate debate, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in Dallas. (Shelby Tauber/Texas Tribune via AP, Pool)

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks during a U.S. Senate debate with Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in Dallas. (Shelby Tauber/Texas Tribune via AP, Pool)

Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas, left, speaks during a U.S. Senate debate with Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in Dallas. (Shelby Tauber/Texas Tribune via AP, Pool)

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks during a U.S. Senate debate with Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas, left, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in Dallas. (Shelby Tauber/Texas Tribune via AP, Pool)

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, right, speaks during a U.S. Senate debate with Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in Dallas. (Shelby Tauber/Texas Tribune via AP, Pool)

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, right, speaks during a U.S. Senate debate with Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in Dallas. (Shelby Tauber/Texas Tribune via AP, Pool)

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, bottom, speaks during a U.S. Senate debate with Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in Dallas. (Shelby Tauber/Texas Tribune via AP, Pool)

BUENOS AIRES (AP) — A hat trick and two assists: Lionel Messi came back in style for Argentina in its 6-0 home win in a South American World Cup qualifying match on Tuesday.

The superstar, who missed the two rounds of the competition in October due to a right ankle injury, played from start to finish on Tuesday in front of raucous fans at the Monumental de Nuñez Stadium, who chanted his name after he opened the scoring in the 19th minute.

The result kept the World Cup champions as leaders of the round-robin competition with 22 points after 10 matches, three points clear of second-place Colombia, who earlier beat Chile 4-0. Uruguay is in third position with 16 points after a goalless draw with Ecuador.

Messi's first goal came after a mistake by a Bolivian defender, who missed a pass and allowed the 37-year-old Messi to run freely and finish unchallenged in front of goalkeeper Billy Viscarra. Messi assisted on Lautaro Martínez's goal in the 42th minute and gave a decisive pass once again in added time on a goal by Julián Álvarez.

Argentina appeared to slow its pace after the break, but scored again with Thiago Almada in the 69th minute. The striker scored from close range after a low cross by Nahuel Molina.

Messi's show had two great finishing touches from the edge of the box, the first in the 84th and the second in the 86th minute.

“We enjoyed this, we are happy to be here playing in Argentina,” said Messi, who once again refused to say whether he will play in the next World Cup in 2026. “This could be one of the last (matches in front of the Argentinian crowd).”

Bolivia, which is seeking to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in 30 years, remains in contention with 12 points.

Chile's loss to Colombia has placed the job of coach Ricardo Gareca at risk. Davinson Sánchez, Luis Díaz, Jhon Durán and Luis Sinistierra scored the goals for Colombia. Chile is in last place in the qualifying group with only five points.

Paraguay beat Venezuela 2-1 and moved into a qualifying position in the standings. Jon Aramburo opened the scoring for the visitors in the 25th minute, but striker Antonio Sarabia came from the bench to win it for the hosts with goals in the 59th and 74th minutes.

Two more rounds of South American World Cup qualifying will be played in November.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Argentina's Lionel Messi, left, celebrates with teammate Thiago Almada after scoring his side's fifth goal against Bolivia during a World Cup 2026 qualifying soccer match at Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Argentina's Lionel Messi scores his side's sixth goal against Bolivia during a World Cup 2026 qualifying soccer match at Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Argentina's player celebrate after Lionel Messi scored their sixth goal against Bolivia during a World Cup 2026 qualifying soccer match at Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Uruguay's Nahitan Nandez, left, and Ecuador's Alan Minda compete for the ball during a FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying soccer match at the Centenario stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)

Uruguay's coach Marcelo Bielsa reacts during a FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying soccer match against Ecuador at the Centenario stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)

Chile's coach Ricardo Gareca gestures during a FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying soccer match against Colombia at the Metropolitano Roberto Melendez stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

Colombia's Luis Diaz celebrates scoring his side's second goal against Chile during a FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying soccer match at the Metropolitano Roberto Melendez stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

Argentina's Lionel Messi looks on during a World Cup 2026 qualifying soccer match against Bolivia at Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Argentina's Lautaro Martinez, celebrates with teammate Lionel Messi after scoring his side's 2nd goal against Bolivia during a World Cup 2026 qualifying soccer match at Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)